Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati (R) greets Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron during a meeting at the Government's Palace in Beirut on February 1, 2024. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib summoned the British ambassador and handed him a note of protest regarding his British counterpart, Lord David Cameron's visit to Beirut, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said on Tuesday.
Contacted by L'Orient Today, a source at the Lebanese Foreign Ministry said the reason for the objection is because Cameron allegedly did not ask to meet Bou Habib when he was in the country the previous week.
The British embassy could not immediately comment, however a source close to the British embassy told L'Orient Today that the Foreign Secretary and Lord Ahmad "were pleased to have constructive meetings with the caretaker prime minister, the speaker, and the army commander." Tariq Ahmad is the British Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth, and United Nations at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Last week, Cameron met with the Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the Lebanese Army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun as part of his visit to Lebanon.
"They had hoped to see the foreign minister during their meeting with the PM but they understood this was not possible. They look forward to continuing to engage with the government of Lebanon in their joint efforts to protect regional security," the source added.
In the meetings last week, David Cameron "insisted" on the need for a cease-fire and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, according to the statement. "This is essential if we are to find a long-term peace solution," he said.
British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell echoed the sentiment, saying: "An escalation of violence is in nobody's interest."
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 put an end to the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. It mandates the exclusive deployment of the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, a clause yet to be fully respected due to Hezbollah's continued presence south of the Litani River.
While in Lebanon, Cameron also gave an interview to Lebanese TV channel LBCI, where he said that he told the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "start talking about the things a Palestinian state can be rather than the things it can't be."