Bou Habib demands an integrated solution for Lebanon to stabilize the situation in the south while meeting with Maronite League

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Abdallah Bou Habib visited the Maronite League and was received by its president, Ambassador Khalil Karam, members of the Executive Council, and its former presidents.

During the meeting, Ambassador Karam delivered a welcome speech, asking questions about the Syrian displacement, the closure of diplomatic missions, which caused uproar and objections, and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

In turn, Bou Habib said that Lebanon demands an integrated solution to stabilize the south.

He mentioned the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and that it includes Israel's withdrawal from the Shebaa Farms, the Kfarchouba Hills, and the occupied part of the town of Ghajar, and support for the Lebanese army, and increasing its numbers and equipment so that it can strengthen its deployment in the south. 

Bou Habib spoke at length about the dilemma of Syrian displacement to Lebanon and the existential threat posed by those returning for economic reasons.

He added that the lack of opportunities in Syria and the suffering with international agencies, UN bodies, and some Western donor countries indicated that this issue was at the heart of the mission of the Cypriot Foreign Minister's visit to Lebanon.

Bou Habib said, "Displacement is our primary concern, especially since it has become the focus of a Lebanese consensus on the need to address it sustainably by assisting the displaced economically and carrying out early recovery projects that help them return to their villages in Syria, most of which have become safe." 

He emphasized that this includes implementing pilot projects to rehabilitate neighboring villages and facilitate the return of the displaced to them.

Regarding the issue of suspending the work of some diplomatic missions and rationalizing spending in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that the closure of these missions would be reconsidered.