Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati affirmed Lebanon's commitment to international resolutions and charters, thanking the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for its efforts to ensure stability in southern Lebanon in cooperation with the Lebanese Army.
In his speech delivered at the United Nations, Mikati promised to implement "reform measures," stating: "Lebanon cannot do without the Arab countries to which it belongs, and we adhere to the Taif Agreement and reject any infringement on it."
He appealed to "brotherly and friendly countries to stand by Lebanon in its current plight and to support it in overcoming it and addressing its serious repercussions on the people and the structure of the state, and we look forward to re-convening the Friends of Lebanon conference."
Mikati pointed out that "the displacement crisis has become larger than Lebanon can bear," clarifying that "the only sustainable and realistic solution is to achieve safe and dignified return to Syria within the context of a roadmap that should begin to be worked on as soon as possible, and to provide additional quality assistance to the Lebanese state."
His speech included the following:
"Mr. President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly,
Excellency Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres,
Heads of states, governments, and delegations,
Ladies and gentlemen. I extend to you, Mr. President, my warmest congratulations on your assuming the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly in its 77th session, and I seize this opportunity to thank His Excellency Mr. Abdullah Shahid for his excellent management of the previous session and all the efforts he made in this context. I also extend greetings to His Excellency Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his continuous efforts to enhance the role of the United Nations organization and develop its work.
The world today is going through a very critical phase of armed conflicts and interconnected crises that concern us all. There is no better place to discuss these challenges than this hall, which brings together all the countries of the world united by the Charter of the United Nations, which my country Lebanon is proud to have played a role in establishing, as well as decades of fruitful cooperation with it. In this context, Mr. President, I would like to express my gratitude to you, and through you to the United Nations organization, in all its branches and specialized institutions, and those working in Lebanon, for the efforts made to assist it and contribute to alleviating the burden of the suffocating economic and financial crisis it is going through.
I especially thank the International Emergency Forces (UNIFIL) for its sacrifices and efforts to maintain stability in southern Lebanon, in close coordination with the Lebanese Army, which we look forward to strengthening its military capabilities and easing the financial burdens on it. In this context, we confirm Lebanon’s full commitment to the implementation of all the provisions of Resolution 1701 and all international legitimacy resolutions.
As for the demarcation of our maritime borders through appreciated and welcomed American mediation, with UN sponsorship, I would like to reaffirm Lebanon's absolute commitment to its sovereignty, rights, and wealth in its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, reiterating our sincere desire to reach a long-awaited negotiated solution. I am pleased to inform you that we have made tangible progress that we hope will reach its desired outcomes soon.
Lebanon is determined to protect its national interests and the resources of its people and recognizes the importance of the promising energy market in the Eastern Mediterranean for the prosperity of the economies of the region’s countries and meeting the needs of importing countries.
Mr. President,
Lebanon, based on its belief in the leading role played by United Nations organizations, reaffirms its commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as to the international frameworks advocating for disarmament in all its forms. We also welcome efforts aimed at reaching an international understanding to rid the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction in implementation of General Assembly Resolution 73/546. We praise what has been achieved for this purpose in previous conference sessions and look forward to a successful third conference session, scheduled to be held under Lebanon's presidency next November, that contributes to supporting the establishment of a weapons of mass destruction-free zone in the Middle East.
Mr. President,
Many countries worldwide are experiencing severe economic crises, with causes that are varied, intricate, and well-known, significantly affecting all aspects of life and leading several governments to take exceptional measures in an attempt to mitigate the impact of these crises on their peoples. In my country Lebanon, we have been facing for several years the worst social and economic crisis in our history, affecting all institutions and putting the majority of Lebanese people below the poverty line, resulting in the emigration of many young and promising talents, and leading to a loss for the nation of its best sons.
In addition to the sharp, unprecedented economic deterioration, the collapse of the national currency to its lowest historical level, the public closures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, not to mention the tragedy of the Beirut port explosion, for which we are keen to uncover the truth, and the implications of the Syrian crisis and the burdens of the displaced, the Lebanese government found itself facing an unprecedented political crisis that forced us to move slowly and cautiously through a political and economic minefield, to remedy the situation and establish the appropriate ground for contributing to bringing the country to safety.
Mr. President,
Our government has succeeded in achieving many of the goals it set, including holding parliamentary elections on time despite the difficult conditions the country is experiencing. However, the road ahead for Lebanon remains challenging, long, and fraught with difficulties before emerging from the crisis, as we are working with all our might and determination to successfully overcome it. In this context, our government signed a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund, and we pledge from this platform to proceed with all necessary legislative and administrative reforms to overcome our current plight. We rely in this context, as always, on the help of Lebanon's international friends, foremost among them the brotherly Arab countries, which Lebanon, a country of Arab identity and belonging and a founding member of the Arab League, cannot do without.
Lebanon's Arab identity and its commitment to Arab issues is a reflection of what is stated in its constitution and in the Taif Agreement, which ended the devastating civil war that ravaged my country. I must reiterate our full commitment to this Agreement and our non-tolerance of any attempt to infringe upon its provisions, in addition to renewing our commitment to the principle of disassociation that we have adopted since our last government, in an effort to keep our nation as distant as possible from what it cannot bear.
The Lebanese government also relies on the United Nations and its member states, which have always affirmed through their generous assistance to Lebanon that a capable and prosperous Lebanese state is an urgent necessity for security and peace in the region and the world.
In the context of efforts to address the economic crisis, our government is also working on a financial and economic recovery plan that complements our cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, alongside a package of comprehensive structural and sectoral reforms that meet the needs of the Lebanese people and provide them with a social safety net, and the establishment of laws that ensure absolute transparency and combat the scourge of corruption which has increased due to the economic collapse.
We are also working simultaneously to revive the economy and harness the many latent opportunities within it, especially the young talents, which are our responsibility and a beacon of hope for the success of an open Lebanese economic model that embraces the world and leading opportunities. In this context, we urge brotherly and friendly countries to support Lebanon in its current plight specifically and to assist it in tackling the serious repercussions on the Lebanese people and the structure and integrity of the state. We look forward to reconstituting the Friends of Lebanon conference, which has often been hosted by France in cooperation with Lebanon's friends and brothers.
The existence of a sovereign, independent Lebanese state that is strong and capable of protecting the parliamentary democratic system and public and private freedoms, that believes in tolerance, brotherhood, and coexistence, and adopts a policy of "disassociation" and staying away from "axis politics," is a pressing necessity for security, peace, and stability and prosperity in the region. Likewise, the existence of a strong central government that upholds the rule of law and ensures its proper implementation, in addition to providing a supportive and stimulating environment for the practice of businesses and productive sectors, in all their diversity and difference, according to the free market and economy standards and the requirements of the times and the "information and communications revolution," is also a pressing necessity for the entire region, and the best way for all of us to confront the challenges of poverty, unemployment, extremism, and terrorism, and to avoid falling into the unknown.
Mr. President,
Lebanon has been playing a pioneering role for more than ten years in achieving global public good by hosting a vast number of Syrian refugees, making it difficult to count them accurately. We have been keen since the beginning of the Syrian crisis to adopt an open border policy based on humanitarian considerations, but today the displacement crisis has become larger than Lebanon can bear.
We also want to emphasize that the Lebanese constitution and the consensus of all Lebanese prohibit any settlement or naturalization on its territory and that the only sustainable and realistic solution is to achieve safe and dignified return to Syria within the context of a roadmap that should begin to be worked on as soon as possible, with the cooperation of all parties and the provision of additional quality assistance to the Lebanese state and its various institutions and infrastructure, which have been under the burden of a significant influx of displaced persons for more than ten years.
Mr. President,
The Palestinian cause remains the core issue that impedes the achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East region. The injustice faced by the Palestinian people must be lifted, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem must be realized, along with the implementation of all international legitimacy resolutions regarding this matter, including the return of refugees to their homes.
In discussing Palestinian refugees, I would also like to emphasize the pivotal role played by UNRWA in serving the goals and purposes of the United Nations by contributing to mitigating some of the injustices faced by Palestinian refugees and helping achieve a degree of regional development and stability. In this context, we express our deep concern about the UNRWA’s critical financial situation and the accumulated deficit in its budget, which puts its services at risk. We also renew Lebanon's welcome and support for all international efforts made to bridge the deficit, where the biggest challenge remains finding a sustainable solution for the funding gap.
Mr. President,
Lebanon possesses a rich culture rooted in history, and it bears a message of peace, tolerance, and dialogue. While my country is going through a difficult period, the challenges will not deter the Lebanese from moving forward in re-establishing their prosperity and revitalizing the pioneering role that Lebanon has long played globally. We want Lebanon to be a place of meeting, not division — a space for dialogue, not competition — a sanctuary for its spiritual wealth that combines the values of the heavenly religions and the values of truth and justice in this world. I am confident that with the unity of its people and the helping hands of its brothers and friends, we can achieve our aspirations.
In conclusion, I reiterate my thanks to the United Nations for its constant cooperation with Lebanon and its ongoing partnership, and to all the member states that love and support Lebanon. I repeat my call to all to keep Lebanon neutral from all regional and global conflicts. The larger the challenges, the greater our desire to work together for the good and interests of our peoples. Recent successive crises have proven the importance of international cooperation in addressing crises that have become, in their entirety, cross-border. Thus, I conclude, where the United Nations began its message, which is through integrated and solidarity-based collective action for the benefit of humanity and its welfare, through justice, security, peace, and sustainable development.
With our hope and aspiration for a better world, especially in the Middle East.
And we extend to you our best wishes for success."
