The caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, stated at the beginning of the Cabinet session today, Friday, that "despite all the destructive assaults that our people in the south have been suffering for more than two hundred days due to the Israeli aggression, the increasing number of martyrs and victims, the burning of crops, and the environmental massacres, the barbarism of killing continues to grow, as if we have become an open arena for attacks."
He said: "We highly appreciate the efforts made by Lebanon's friends from international leaders and figures to find solutions for the Lebanese situation." He added: "As a government, we continue to work with faith and determination, straining ourselves, away from the luxury of power and political bidding, to push towards the swift election of a President of the Republic. We affirm that fulfilling our national and constitutional duties in these exceptional and difficult circumstances, where citizens desperately need essential services, especially health and security, is a national and moral responsibility we will not neglect."
He continued: "We highly value every movement and effort to bring viewpoints closer, establish relationships of trust, and initiate dialogue among political forces, and we wish success to every good endeavor. I extend my thanks to the ambassadors of the Quintet for their efforts and love for Lebanon. However, we must all be at the level of love for this homeland."
Regarding the Syrian refugee file, Mikati pointed out that "there is momentum to address this issue in a way that affirms our respect for human rights, and our goal is certainly not to endanger anyone but to protect our homeland and implement the applicable laws on all residents in Lebanese territory. Anyone who meets the conditions for residency in Lebanon will receive facilitation with due diligence, and there is cooperation with international organizations in this regard and cooperation with Syria as required by the existing laws."
He added: "We warn against the risk of further describing and warning against hindering the voluntary return of refugees and the return of non-legal refugees to Syria, under the pretext of the absence of safe areas. We ask the international community about the risks of Lebanon transforming into a safe area for refugees while being unsafe for Lebanese? This is what all Lebanese reject, from a national standpoint to preserve the entity's independence of the homeland."
He noted that "I visited Paris and met with French President Emmanuel Macron, where we discussed the situation in the south, the Syrian refugee file, the presidential elections, and assistance to the army. The atmosphere of the meeting was positive, and there was an understanding of what we raised. A conference to support the army will soon be held at the invitation of Italy and France."
He added: "Regarding the south, there was a French paper presented for discussion, to which Lebanon responded. The conclusion of the response is that we do not want any issues raised outside the framework of implementing resolution 1701 and Lebanon's readiness to implement it. Currently, work is underway to reconsider the French paper, which will soon be delivered to Lebanon for us to review, and with God's permission, matters will take a positive turn towards establishing security and safety, which is what we want."
