At the 60th Munich Security Conference in Germany, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned Israel’s ongoing aggression against southern Lebanon.
“While Lebanon emphasizes the need for stability in the region and calls on all parties to refrain from escalation, we find Israel continuing its aggression, which prompts us to ask: what steps has the international community taken to stop this persistent aggression?” said Mikati.
During the session titled “Protecting Innocent People and Volunteers in War Relief,” he emphasized the need for stability in the region and called on all parties to refrain from escalation. Additionally, Mikati emphasized “the devastating impact of the conflicts on innocent human lives” and “the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable amidst these hostilities.”
Highlighting the recent targeting of a family in southern Lebanon, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives, Mikati questioned the effectiveness of international efforts in curbing Israel’s aggression. “Have we all not yet realized the devastating effects of perpetual wars, lost generations, forced displacement, the refugee crisis, the transition from one conflict to another, and from one disaster to another?” he asked.
Mikati also asserted that the continuous wars and conflicts in the Middle East, as well as their global consequences, cannot be ended “without a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.”
Reiterating Lebanon’s adherence to UN resolutions, the Caretaker Prime Minister emphasized that “a vibrant, stable, and sovereign Lebanon is essential, not only for the Lebanese people but also for regional peace and stability.”
Finally, Mikati urged “international actors to support peacebuilding efforts, help prevent and resolve conflicts, and protect civilians from harm.”
On another note, Mikati met with the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, during the conference, alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Abdallah Bou Habib.
The meeting focused on possible cooperation opportunities between Lebanon and the organization to reduce illegal migration to and from Lebanon. As such, Mikati expressed “Lebanon’s refusal to take back any displaced person who migrates through illegal channels to Lebanon.” He also thanked “the organization for its efforts to assist 82,000 displaced Lebanese from southern border villages and provide them with humanitarian and health assistance.”
