The consultative meeting of Arab foreign ministers, which was held in Beirut yesterday, reaffirmed Arab support and solidarity with Lebanon and reflected “confidence in Lebanon’s stability and future,” according to the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, while Lebanon affirmed its determination to face challenges and find solutions to get out of its crises. President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, reiterated the talk about the issue of refugees and displaced persons, stressing that Lebanon “can no longer bear this reality, and the position of the international community does not encourage finding quick solutions.”
The consultative meeting concluded its work yesterday in Beirut, a meeting that followed two meetings in Doha and Kuwait earlier and is held by consensus among all Arab countries. It was held yesterday to discuss files that will be discussed in the Arab summit meetings to be held in Algeria next October. A number of Arab foreign ministers and their representatives participated in the meeting in the absence of Syria, whose membership in the League is still suspended.
Before the meeting, a delegation of participants visited the presidential palace in Baabda, and met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, who stressed the importance of Arab-Arab relations, especially in this delicate circumstance that the Arab world is going through and the challenges it faces that require the utmost levels of consultation and joint cooperation. That cooperation and solidarity between brotherly Arab countries is important in light of the crises, pressures and transformations our countries are witnessing.”
Aoun stressed that “Lebanon, which suffers from a series of accumulated crises, also suffers from burdens that it bears as a result of the large numbers of refugees and displaced people on its land, and it is no longer able to bear this reality, and the position of the international community does not encourage finding quick solutions,” hoping from the ministers The Arab Foreign Ministry “helps face these challenges,” stressing that “Lebanon, despite its current difficult circumstances, is determined to face challenges and find solutions to get out of its crises.”
The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, pointed out, in turn, that “we, as an Arab League, stand behind the Lebanese state, the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people.” He said that “meetings between Arab foreign ministers are important for communication, and the importance of the meeting is that it does not have an agenda or documents for discussion and discussion. Rather, it is a meeting in which opinions, positions and ideas are exchanged in an open manner, which would crystallize into projects and programs that benefit the Arab League.”
He considered that “the holding of such a meeting in Beirut, specifically at this particular time, has an important meaning, and its significance is that the Arab countries stand by Lebanon, its political leadership and its people, with the hope that this beautiful country and its long history will overcome the economic and political problems it suffers from.” He added: “From here, our meeting in Beirut reflects confidence in Lebanon’s stability and future.”
During the delegation’s meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Berri stressed that Lebanon “will not forget its Arab brothers, it will not forget Taif, Doha, or Kuwait one day, but now Lebanon seeks and yearns for its Arab brothers and wishes them to come and enter into the heart of what Lebanon is complaining about.”
He added: “Lebanon is not at all a bankrupt country, but is in a state of cessation of payment and possesses all the elements of revival and resurrection from crises if the sincere intentions of its sons as well as of its Arab brothers and friends in the world are present.” Berri added: “Lebanon, which, in addition to its expatriate sons in the Arab world and all countries of the world, has an important humanitarian, cultural and financial tributary, can constitute an important and pivotal factor in advancing alongside the water, oil and gas wealth in our sea,” especially at our borders with Palestine. The occupied territories, where indirect negotiations are taking place through the United Nations and the American mediator, and these talks are witnessing a state of development.”
– The proceedings of the meeting
The caretaker foreign minister, Abdullah Bouhabib, presided over the opening session, as Lebanon chairs the current session of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers. After the meeting ended, and in a chat with journalists, Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Hossam Zaki said: “The research dealt with preparations for the Arab summit that will be held in Algeria and the catastrophic situation of famine in Somalia in light of the difficult climatic conditions and Arab food security,” noting that “there is a plan prepared by the Secretariat.” The general public and will present it next September.” The Palestinian issue was also discussed. Ambassador Zaki affirmed “the support and solidarity of those gathered with Lebanon,” but he indicated that “no sub- or partial issues were raised.” Upon his arrival at the hotel to participate in the session, the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Riyad Al-Maliki, spoke to the journalists, saying: “Our presence in Beirut is very important because we affirm the importance of the Lebanese state within the Arab House,” noting that “the arrival of foreign ministers to Beirut also has very important implications.” He added: “As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, I come to Beirut first to confirm the special relations that unite Lebanon with Palestine and to convey the Palestinian concern to this place, as well as to talk freely about the Palestinian conditions and concerns, which have become very worrying.”
In turn, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stressed that “his country cannot allow Lebanon to slip towards more difficulties.” Challenges, for us and for His Majesty the King of Jordan, Lebanon is a priority, and the Lebanese people are a brotherly people.”