Meeting between Lebanon's Foreign Minister, Joe Rajji, (L) and the European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas in Amman. (Credit: NNA)
Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Rajji called on Arab states for "explicit support to preserve the independence of the Lebanese negotiating track from the U.S.-Iranian track," the state-run National News Agency reported on Tuesday.
Rajji's comments were made during his participation in the 165th session of the Arab League Council held in Amman at the ministerial level.
Prior to the opening session, a closed consultative meeting was held, during which Rajji delivered a speech outlining the latest diplomatic and negotiating developments, calling on Arab states for "explicit support to preserve the independence of the Lebanese negotiating track from the U.S.-Iranian track."
Despite the fact that the Iran-U.S. Memorandum of Understanding signed last week includes a cease-fire in Lebanon, Lebanese officials stress that Lebanon should continue its direct negotiations with Israel in Washington, which have been going on since April. The next round of the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations is scheduled for Tuesday evening.
Rajji said that "Lebanon must be an active partner in any regional framework being prepared to discuss the future of the Middle East, rather than having its fate decided at tables where it is not present."
The Foreign Minister also held a series of bilateral meetings with several foreign ministers and an extended meeting with European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas. The meeting with Kallas addressed the situation in Lebanon, the direct negotiations with Israel, and the post-UNIFIL phase, in addition to the economic and financial reforms initiated by the Lebanese government.
Rajji provided Kallas with a detailed explanation of the "importance of the negotiating track as the only path to ensuring stability and extending state sovereignty over all Lebanese territory," recalling the Lebanese government’s firm decision to restrict weapons to legitimate forces. He also, once again, emphasized "the need to separate the Lebanese track from the Iranian-American track, and that any decision concerning Lebanon must be taken solely by the Lebanese state."
Rajji also called on the European Union to provide "effective support to ensure the return of Syrian refugees to their country," noting that "Lebanon has reached the limits of its capacity to bear the burden of this file."
For her part, Kallas reaffirmed "the European Union’s firm support for the Lebanese government and its decisions," reiterating "Europe’s unwavering backing for Lebanon’s sovereignty."
For the first time since March 2, when the war between Hezbollah and Israel broke out again, southern Lebanon witnessed a relative calm between Saturday afternoon and Tuesday morning. However, later on Tuesday, the Israeli army opened fire on citizens in Nabatieh Fawqa killing two persons and wounding another.
