BOU HABIB ARRIVES IN NEW YORK COMING FROM WASHINGTON TO PARTAKE IN DISCUSSIONS ON MIDDLE EAST SITUATION

Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib, arrived in New York on Tuesday, coming from Washington, to participate in the open discussion on the situation in the Middle East, which will be held today at the UN Security Council. Bou Habib began his visit by holding bilateral meetings with his Kuwaiti, Bahraini and Armenian counterparts. He also held bilateral meetings with the Permanent Representatives of the United States of America, France, the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom. He will also meet his Russian and Iranian counterparts. During his New York encounters, Bou Habib underlined 'the necessity of reducing the escalation in the region and in southern Lebanon, and the importance of fully implementing Resolution 1701.' He warned of "the catastrophic consequences that will occur in light of any Israeli escalation towards Lebanon, or any Israeli invasion of Lebanon," cautioning against the expansion of the war into a regional war. The Foreign Minister also e mphasized "the importance of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and southern Lebanon," praising "the mediators' diplomatic endeavors and efforts," stressing "Lebanon's commitment to initiatives and solutions that aim to reduce escalation and enhance regional peace and security." On another note, Bou Habib presented the ongoing burden posed by the Syrian displacement in Lebanon, stressing on "modifying the international community's approach to this existential issue, and working to implement sustainable solutions aimed at securing the return of our Syrian brothers to their villages, and providing aid to them in Syria." He suggested 'working on developing a model project that includes the return of a group of displaced people to a number of neighboring villages in Syria,' calling on the international community to 'strengthen early recovery projects and relax the provisions of the Caesar Act.' Bou Habib will be delivering today Lebanon's address in the open debate at the Security Council on the situation in the Mid dle East, which will be chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Source: National news agency - Lebanon