The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, emphasized that his visit was a show of solidarity with Lebanon and its people, comprising two main aspects. The first pertains to the escalation in southern Lebanon, where Lebanon faces serious challenges threatening its security and stability, as well as the security and stability of the entire region if the war at the southern borders expands. He affirmed the Arab League's solidarity with Lebanon and its people, indicating that this is an Arab position reinforced by the decisions of the Arab League Council.
Ambassador Zaki further noted that commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 is essential for containing the current escalation. He added that the Secretary-General had warned since the outbreak of the brutal war in Gaza of the risks of this war spreading to several countries in the region, including Lebanon. He stressed the need for the international community to fulfill its responsibility to halt this raging war, stating that there can be no containment of the current escalation in southern Lebanon without a complete ceasefire that also includes halting confrontations in the region.
The Secretary-General's personal envoy clarified that the second aspect of the visit, which is equally important as the first, concerns the presidential vacancy that has lasted for over 19 months. He pointed out that he had emphasized during all meetings with Lebanese leaders the necessity of breaking the stalemate regarding this important issue. He called on everyone to prioritize the national interest above any other considerations and to open the way for resuming the constitutional path to elect a president, stressing the seriousness of the current situation as it exacerbates the challenges facing all state institutions and limits their ability to perform their duties towards the Lebanese people.
In conclusion, the Secretary-General's personal envoy expressed his reliance on the wisdom of Lebanese leaders and their complete awareness of the gravity of the challenges surrounding Lebanon both politically and on the ground, affirming the Arab League's full readiness to assist Lebanon in everything that contributes to safely navigating this difficult phase.
