He added, “Žbogar”: “We are pleased to be here today, and we would like to express our deep gratitude for the warm welcome we have received from our hosts. First, allow me to reaffirm the Council’s commitment to the stability of Lebanon and the region as a whole. The Council continues to hold regular consultations on the situation in Lebanon and along the Blue Line, and our visit today confirms this commitment. We have come to Beirut at this precise time with regard to the implementation of the relevant resolutions, and to implement the cessation of hostilities agreement issued on November 26 of last year.”
“Žbogar” continued, “We held many fruitful meetings with His Excellency the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and we also held important meetings and listened to a very important briefing from the Commander of the Lebanese Army and the Commander of UNIFIL in Lebanon, in addition to a briefing from the American General participating in the cessation of hostilities mechanism.”
“Žbogar” pointed out that: “The visit also included a field tour of the Blue Line, the UNIFIL headquarters, and related sites. Our discussions everywhere were useful and contributed to our understanding of the current situation.”
He added, “During our presence here, we touched on many issues related to the political, economic, and security situation in the country, with a special focus on the work of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army. This visit is evidence of the strong international community support for Lebanon and its people. We renewed the Council’s support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence, and we affirmed our commitment to the full implementation of Resolution 1701, in support of Lebanon’s security, stability, and the stability of the region.”
“Žbogar” stressed the importance of “all parties’ commitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement issued on November 26, 2024. We acknowledge the progress Lebanon has made this year, and we appreciate the role of UNIFIL and UNSCOL in reducing tension and promoting the implementation of relevant resolutions. We also emphasize the need to respect the safety of peacekeepers and not target them. We call for strengthening international support for Lebanon and the Lebanese Army, including supporting its sustainable deployment south of the Litani River. We support the Lebanese government’s decision to ensure that weapons are exclusively in the hands of the state. We wanted to take advantage of this visit to discuss the available options for implementing Resolution 1701 after UNIFIL leaves Lebanon, and we also look forward to the Secretary-General’s recommendations on this matter. It is clear that this issue will require in-depth discussion during 2026.”
“Žbogar” concluded: “The Council renewed its support for economic and institutional reforms in Lebanon in order to open the door for international support for the recovery and reconstruction process. We thank you for your interest in our visit, and we look forward to continuing the dialogue on these issues in New York.”
