Outgoing Prime Minister Nagib Mikati renewed his call to “fully implement” United Nations Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war, and to force Israel to cease “its aggression against Lebanon as well as its repeated violations », According to a press release from the Grand Serail reporting his remarks in an interview with the SkyNews Arabia channel.
The head of government also considered that the fact that “the international appeal approved by ten countries for a 21-day ceasefire” was not followed puts the credibility of these countries at stake. “The countries which accepted the call for a ceasefire now have their credibility at stake. I have not declared a ceasefire, but I am sure that as soon as the Israelis stop shooting, the shooting from Lebanon will stop, instead of continuing to kill and destroy, let us resort to a diplomatic solution,” he continued.
Mr. Mikati was referring to the US-French proposal to establish a 21-day truce between Hezbollah and the Jewish state, a move supported by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
At the end of last week, the outgoing Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdallah Bou Habib, revealed that the number one of the Shiite party, Hassan Nasrallah, had accepted this proposal shortly before his assassination by Israel, and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also accepted this truce before giving the green light to the assassination of the leader of Hezbollah, killed on September 27 in a massive strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. In his interview, Nagib Mikati confirmed Benjamin Netanyahu’s last-minute change of heart.
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Strengthening of the Lebanese army
“We have been banking and we are still banking on a diplomatic solution that avoids more killings and destruction. We call for the implementation of Resolution 1701; there is no other solution, and it must be fully implemented, starting with stopping Israeli aggression and repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty. In return, we are ready to strengthen the presence of the army in the south in order to fully implement the resolution,” continued the Prime Minister.
For Nagib Mikati, “the solution lies in the implementation of United Nations Resolution 1701, which implies full cooperation between the army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in order to secure the region.” “The Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berry is also making the necessary contacts, and we can say that if the ceasefire is respected on the Israeli side, it will also be respected on the Lebanese side,” he assured.
“The Lebanese army is ready to immediately strengthen its positions in terms of manpower, but it does not have the necessary equipment, and therefore we need some time to do so,” he added , before noting that “all countries are committed to providing the troops with the necessary equipment so that they can accomplish the tasks incumbent upon them.”
Asked whether he was in contact with Hezbollah, he replied: “I do not have direct contact, and it is President Nabih Berry who makes the appropriate contacts. »
“We do not want violence or war, but rather permanent stability in South Lebanon and the return of displaced people to their homes. The diplomatic solution is what is needed, and if anyone has another solution, let them announce it,” concluded the Prime Minister, before emphasizing that “the Palestinian question” will only be resolved through a “ just solution that gives Palestinians their rights. »
Outgoing Prime Minister Nagib Mikati renewed his call to “fully implement” United Nations Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war, and to force Israel to cease “its aggression against Lebanon as well as its repeated violations », According to a press release from the Grand Serail reporting his remarks in an interview with the SkyNews channel…
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