Amman: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Youssef Raggi, participated in the 165th session of the Arab League Council held in Amman at the ministerial level, presenting several key issues deemed crucial for Lebanon's diplomatic and regional future.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, during the ministerial meeting, Raggi expressed gratitude to the outgoing Secretary-General, Ahmad Aboul Gheit, marking the end of his term and the election of his successor. He acknowledged Gheit's unwavering support for Lebanon and his role in defending the country's interests during challenging times.
Before the opening session, the Lebanese minister attended a closed-door consultative meeting, where he urged Arab countries to explicitly support Lebanon's independent negotiation process, distinct from the American-Iranian dossier. He emphasized Lebanon's need to be a full-fledged participant in regional frameworks discussing the Middle East's future, rather than a nation whose decisions are made in its absence.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Raggi engaged in numerous bilateral discussions with several foreign ministers, including an extensive conversation with European Commission Vice President, Kaja Kallas.
The discussions focused on the situation in Lebanon in light of ongoing negotiations with Israel under U.S. mediation, the future of the UNIFIL mandate, and potential scenarios for the post-deployment phase, as well as economic and financial reforms undertaken by Lebanese authorities.
The minister thanked the European Union for its consistent political and humanitarian support, underscoring the negotiation process as the sole path to ensuring stability and reinforcing the state's sovereignty over its entire territory. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to restricting arms possession to legitimate forces and the necessity of separating the Lebanese issue from broader regional dynamics.
Finally, Raggi called on the European Union to intensify its support for the return of displaced Syrians, asserting that Lebanon has reached its limits in managing this issue.
In response, Ms. Kallas reiterated the European Union's firm support for Lebanon, its institutions, and its sovereignty.