The newspaper "Nidaa Al-Watan" reported: "I have lived through at least two invasions, a civil war, several assassinations, and bombings, and I do not wish for anyone to go through what we experienced" in Lebanon... This statement, made by Lebanon's ambassador to the United Nations, Amal Mudallali, during a General Assembly session, responded to a European diplomat who noted that he had never experienced a war in his life. It encapsulates the essence of the Lebanese stance against conflict and war, emphasizing a love for peace and life after enduring extensive suffering throughout their modern history, including "invasions, occupation, and interference in Lebanese internal affairs," as articulated by Mudallali while announcing Lebanon's support for the UN resolution condemning and denouncing the Russian aggression against Ukraine and calling for Moscow to withdraw all its forces immediately from Ukrainian territory and to reverse the annexation of the two Ukrainian provinces it forcibly occupied.
With this honorable position, Lebanon stood "united as one voice" alongside Arab and Western countries in rejecting violations of the UN Charter and international treaties and human rights by Russia. Lebanon was among the 141 countries that voted in favor of the resolution, compared to five countries that opposed it, and 35 countries that abstained from voting, thereby imposing a global isolation on Russia. This action condemned its invasion of Ukraine while also raising the call to cease the Russian war machine and "initiate dialogue and peaceful diplomatic solutions to the war," as confirmed by Lebanese diplomatic sources to "Nidaa Al-Watan." They emphasized that "Lebanon took the right and natural stance in rejecting war, aligning with its identity and nature alongside its Arab brothers and international friends and European partners in confronting the Russian war on Ukraine."
Mudallali expressed surprise at "any party demanding that the Lebanese State take a position contrary to the one it adopted," while questioning, "What is Lebanon's interest in encouraging military attacks and invasions? Is its interest found in opposing the unified European stance against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the threat to Eastern Europe's security? And if we were to do so, who would stand with us if Israel were to invade our lands again?" She concluded by indicating that "the position of the UN General Assembly has now become a fact, and from now on, the focus will shift to activating international diplomatic channels to find a peaceful solution that puts an end to the military conflict in Ukraine, amid expectations of China taking an active role in mediating between the Russians and Europeans and Americans."
The trilateral meeting that took place yesterday at Baabda Palace between President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib resulted in reaffirming Lebanon's position "in line with its announcement on February 24" regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and demanding Russia's immediate withdrawal from Ukrainian territory," while reiterating the necessity of "working to enhance negotiation opportunities between the Russian and Ukrainian sides to reach a peaceful solution to their conflict." This Lebanese position followed a phone call that Aoun received from U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, during which they discussed military developments between Russia and Ukraine. According to accompanying sources, "Washington did not hide its desire for Lebanon to maintain its previous stance expressed by its Foreign Ministry, which was practically manifested by voting in favor of condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the UN General Assembly, as the alternative may undermine all efforts that the U.S. is making to support Lebanon in various fields, whether in the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, or in the procurement of Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity, or in the issue of maritime border demarcation with Israel."
In the border demarcation file, American Ambassador Dorothy Shea’s visit to Baabda Palace attracted attention yesterday, where she met with the President to discuss updates on the border demarcation issue. Reliable sources revealed to "Nidaa Al-Watan" that she brought with her a "written proposal" from the American mediator, Ambassador Amos Hochstein, regarding the file, clarifying that the "content of the American proposal delivered by Shea to Aoun is in accordance with what was verbally agreed upon with the President during Hochstein's recent visit to Beirut, particularly regarding the initiation of Lebanese negotiations from the coordinates of line 23 to reach a final agreement on the maritime border demarcation with Israel."
