The caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, delivered a speech at the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development held at the United Nations House - ESCWA, emphasizing, "We have worked together to build a better future for our current and future generations and to make our region a place of peace and prosperity. This requires, first and foremost, a clear halt to the Israeli aggression against southern Lebanon and Gaza, moving towards the peaceful option, and obliging Israel to implement international resolutions, especially Resolution 1701, and all resolutions related to Lebanon and the withdrawal from all Lebanese territories that remain occupied."
He stated that "the presence of ESCWA in Lebanon, as well as other United Nations organizations, and the existing cooperation between it and the Lebanese government and various relevant institutions, reaffirms that Lebanon has been and will continue to be a model of democracy, freedom, openness, moderation, coexistence, and interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Above all, it will remain a starting point for developmental visions and future plans, no matter what crises, difficulties, and wars it faces."
He added, "Lebanon, being part of this region, faces significant challenges, but we are confident in our ability to stand together and achieve sustainable development and peace in the region. We encourage all parties to cooperate and work together to achieve these noble goals. The pivotal changes happening in our Arab region are clear evidence of the link between social justice and the concept of sustainable and balanced development. If developmental policies and programs fail to integrate the living, cultural, and humanitarian needs of people, then just and sustainable development cannot be achieved. This also highlights the importance of funding small and medium enterprises in developing the private sector, enhancing inclusive and sustainable growth for all, and directly contributing to providing job opportunities that we urgently need in our region."
He continued, "Our collective work to build a better future for current and future generations and to make our region a place for peace and prosperity requires, first and foremost, a clear halt to the Israeli aggression against southern Lebanon and Gaza, moving towards the peaceful option, and obliging Israel to implement international resolutions, especially Resolution 1701, and all resolutions related to Lebanon and the withdrawal from all Lebanese territories that remain occupied. This reality exerts significant pressure on Lebanon and necessitates raising our voices to demand the international community to stop what is happening, deter the Israeli enemy, and work towards providing peaceful solutions to the region's problems, foremost among them the Palestinian issue, which remains unresolved despite all that Israel does to extinguish it through killing, destruction, and genocide."
He concluded, "Last week, Lebanon submitted the final document for the national food system transformation process to the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Center for the first time in its history, completed in a record time. This document represents a living vision that outlines the path for transforming food systems in Lebanon and serves as a platform for networking among various relevant sectors, functioning as an executive tool for the sustainable development agenda. In a parallel path, MP Inaam Az-Zein proposed a law on the right to food, aimed at ensuring and protecting the right to access adequate and healthy food for all individuals without discrimination, which contributes to achieving social justice and providing equal opportunities for everyone to access sufficient and healthy food. It also lays the legislative foundations for accelerating the implementation of the sustainable development agenda."
