Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received U.S. Special Envoy for Global Energy Security Amos Hochstein and his accompanying delegation at the second presidential headquarters in Ain al-Tineh, in the presence of U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Lebanon Amanda Bales. After a meeting that lasted more than an hour and fifteen minutes, Hochstein made a statement in which he said: "We are in a difficult time that requires quick action, and I am pleased that I was able to meet with the Lebanese government and the army commander to discuss how to reach a diplomatic solution to the crisis at the Lebanon-Israel border."
He added: "I was there last week, and as you saw, our president, the foreign minister, and I personally said that we prefer diplomatic solutions to the current crisis. We held these discussions today, and I strongly believe that the Lebanese people do not want to see the escalation of the current crisis go any further. Therefore, we need to reach a diplomatic solution that allows the Lebanese people to return to their homes in southern Lebanon and resume their normal lives, just as the residents of northern Israel should be able to return to their homes and live safely. This is our goal."
Hochstein continued: "I had good discussions, and I feel hopeful that we will be able to work and move forward in these efforts to reach a solution that allows the Lebanese people and those on the other side to live safely and focus on a better future."
Prime Minister Najib Mikati also received Hochstein in the governmental Saraya in the afternoon, where they held a private meeting followed by an extensive meeting that included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdullah Bou Habib, Chargé d'Affaires Amanda Bales, and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, the U.S. envoy emphasized "the necessity of working to calm the situation in southern Lebanon, even if it is not possible to reach a final agreement at this time," and called for "working on a temporary compromise so that matters do not worsen."
For his part, Mikati stressed that "the priority should be to stop the fire in Gaza and cease Israeli assaults on Lebanon, as well as the repeated violations of Lebanese sovereignty," reiterating: "We want peace and stability through adherence to international resolutions."
In this context, Army Commander General Joseph Aoun received Hochstein in his office in Yarzeh, where they discussed the general situation in the country and developments at the southern border. Hochstein arrived at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut in the morning.
