Sleem to His Dutch Counterpart: There is No Stability in the Region Without a Just Solution

The Minister of National Defense in the caretaker government, Maurice Sleem, met today, Thursday, in his office in Yarzeh, with Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren and her accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Dutch Ambassador to Lebanon, Hans Peter Van Der Woude. They discussed the developments in southern Lebanon and the region, as well as the bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly in the military field. Minister Ollongren emphasized the "necessity of de-escalation in Gaza and the importance of the international community's role in finding a solution to the conflict based on the two-state solution." She pointed to the "special relations between Lebanon and the Netherlands" and expressed hope to "enhance them and translate them into bilateral agreements between the two countries and their armies." For his part, the Minister of Defense affirmed the importance of "strengthening bilateral relations for the benefit of both countries and their armies." Minister Sleem stressed that "Lebanon abides by international resolutions and has never violated the sovereignty of any country, even as the Israeli enemy continues its daily assaults on Lebanon." He added, "Peace and stability in the region cannot be achieved without a just and comprehensive peace and adherence to the relevant international resolutions," noting that "the continuation of the war on Gaza and the aggressions on southern Lebanon exacerbate the military situation and complicate the political solution."