Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Abdallah Bou Habib, winded up his visit to New York with a meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

The meeting took place in the presence the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, Khaled Khiari.

Caretaker Minister Bou Habib thanked the UN Secretary-General for his intervention during the ministerial-level session of the United Nations Security Council, and appreciated his position on the situation in the Middle East.

Minister Bou Habib also invited Guterres to visit Lebanon.

Bou Habib stressed, ‘Lebanon’s adherence to the work of UNIFIL forces and their coordination with the Lebanese army, and the Lebanese authorities’ keenness on their safety and facilitating their mission.’

The Minister also underlined Lebanon’s readiness for a comprehensive and balanced implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 withi
n a comprehensive solution that ensures stability and sustainable calm.”

Viewpoints were also similar on ‘the necessity of a ceasefire in Gaza, and the application of the two-state solution to exit the spiral of conflict in the Middle East.”

This morning, Bou Habib met with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, and informed her of Lebanon’s desire to avoid escalation, and adopt self restraint policy.

Minister Bou Habib also agreed with his Slovenian counterpart, Tanja Fajon, that a ceasefire is the gateway to resolving the conflict, and that ensuring a secure Middle East entails the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon