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- Lebanon鈥檚 PM calls for election of president to end political gridlock
- Insecurity in Middle East 鈥榗asting a shadow over countries and their peoples鈥�
NEW YORK CITY: Lebanon鈥檚 political gridlock, the occupation of parts of its territory and the Syrian refugee crisis have led to an 鈥渦nprecedented economic, financial and humanitarian crisis鈥� that 鈥渢hreatens the very existence鈥� of the country, Prime Minister Najib Mikati has told the UN.
Speaking on Wednesday in the General Debate of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, Mikati listed the greatest threats to Lebanon鈥檚 stability and prosperity, and called for steps to address his country鈥檚 plight.
He highlighted 2023 as marking the 80th anniversary of Lebanon鈥檚 independence, adding that over the past eight decades, Lebanon 鈥渉as been striving to deserve its place among the peace and welfare-loving nations.
鈥淟ebanon was one of the founding fathers of this organization 鈥� (and had a) remarkable contribution in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,鈥� Mikati said.
鈥淏ut it hasn鈥檛 always been an easy journey. Besides the bright chapters of stability, growth, prosperity and peace building, Lebanon has also known long and extremely difficult phases.鈥�
The Lebanese PM, who was designated to fill the role in 2021, said that his country is facing 鈥渘umerous, overlapping crises鈥� that come 鈥渁gainst the backdrop of a weakened international system and regional climate full of questions and challenges.鈥�
Those challenges 鈥渨eigh heavily鈥� on the Lebanese people, Mikati said.
The first major challenge is the vacant position of president of the Lebanese republic, he added.
The political gridlock in Beirut had led to institutional instability and an exacerbation of Lebanon鈥檚 economic and financial woes, said Mikati, who added that structural reforms, which the people 鈥渄epend on to save the country,鈥� cannot be launched.
He commended the role of the five-nation group on Lebanon, which includes 黑料社区, as well as France鈥檚 efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
鈥淚 sincerely look forward to the Lebanese Parliament exercising its sovereign role by electing a president of the republic in the coming period,鈥� Mikati said.
That would see Lebanon 鈥渞eturning to fulfil its mission and playing a leading role in close cooperation with our Arab brethren and our friends in the international community,鈥� he added.
Mikati said that the 12 years of displacement in Syria as a result of the country鈥檚 civil war is 鈥渢hreatening Lebanon鈥檚 very existence.鈥�
Per capita, Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees in the world.
The international community鈥檚 response to the issue is 鈥渢imid鈥� and falls short of an effective, sustainable solution, Mikati said, adding that Lebanon has repeatedly voiced its concerns in the international arena.
鈥淟ebanon will not be the only victim,鈥� he warned, calling for the international community to take action on the displacement of Syria鈥檚 people.
But Mikati highlighted a 鈥減ositive development,鈥� saying that Lebanon had 鈥渞eached an agreement with the UNHCR on the exchange of information pertaining to the Syrian presence in Lebanon.鈥�
The PM said that his country鈥檚 third major challenge concerned Israel鈥檚 continued occupation of Lebanese territory in the south as well as Tel Aviv鈥檚 鈥渙ngoing aggressions and violations.鈥�
Rising levels of political insecurity and instability in the Middle East are 鈥渃asting a shadow over the countries of the region and their peoples,鈥� Mikati said.
But he hailed two recent steps toward rapprochement in the region: the return of Syria to the Arab League and the signing of the 黑料社区-Iran deal.
He added: 鈥淚 would like to express our solidarity with the Libyan and Moroccan peoples in the aftermath of the natural disasters, which ravaged the two countries.鈥�
Mikati said that despite the situation in Lebanon, his country is implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and aiming to meet the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement.
He hailed Egypt鈥檚 hosting of COP27 and said that Lebanon looked forward to taking part in COP28 in the UAE later this year.
Mikati ended his speech by calling for a 鈥渟overeign and independent Lebanese state; a strong, able and inclusive state cooperating with the international community, and friendly and brotherly countries.鈥�
鈥淎 Lebanese state that protects the parliamentary democratic system, and public and private freedoms; that engages in structural reforms and in strengthening the rule of law, citizenship, accountability and justice.
鈥淎 Lebanese state of peace, tolerance and brotherly relations that adopts a policy of dissociation and stays away from the policy of axes.
鈥淎 Lebanese state which is an urgent need for security peace, stability and prosperity in the region.鈥�