Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Sept. 21, 2022, at the UN in New York. (Credit: Angela Weiss/AFP)
BEIRUT — UN Secretary-General Antonió Guterres held on Thursday at the UN's headquarters in New York a meeting with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, to whom he expressed "the continued commitment of the United Nations to support the Lebanese people."
A statement issued by the office of the UN spokesman in New York said that the discussions focused on the situation in Lebanon, during this meeting held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
The Secretary-General stressed to the Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister "the continued commitment of the United Nations to support the Lebanese people."
Guterres and Mikati "also discussed the contribution of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to maintaining stability" in the region. The Secretary-General also expressed his "gratitude for Lebanon's generosity in hosting refugees, while highlighting efforts to find durable solutions for a safe and dignified return" to their country.
During his speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday night, Mikati asked for help from "friends of Lebanon" to cope with the country's ongoing collapse since 2019.