Al-Salem participates in the multilateral summit in New York and emphasizes the importance of avoiding any vacuum

Lebanese Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam participated in the multilateral summit hosted by the United States and chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump, with participation from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Before the summit convened, President Salam and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez discussed, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji, the future of the international presence in southern Lebanon following the end of the UNIFIL mission. Salam stressed the importance of avoiding any vacuum and working to find a formula for an international presence that continues its monitoring, reporting, and liaison roles, while supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in extending state authority across the entirety of its territory. He emphasized the importance of Spain’s continued commitment, “long-standing towards Lebanon, particularly through supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, enhancing their capabilities, and its contribution to UNIFIL.”

Sanchez commended “the reforms undertaken by the Lebanese government despite the difficult circumstances Lebanon is experiencing,” stressing “the importance of continuing this path and moving forward with their implementation.” He affirmed “Spain’s commitment to continue supporting Lebanon and its stability.”

President Salam met with Dr. Abdullah al-Ahmar, Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen, in the presence of Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ahmad Awf, where they underscored “the importance of extending state authority and its legitimate forces across the entire territories of both Lebanon and Yemen, thereby safeguarding the sovereignty of both countries and enhancing security and stability, alongside continuing efforts to de-escalate tensions and spare the region further confrontations.”

For his part, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in New York, reiterating the Lebanese state’s steadfast commitment to the option of negotiation. During the meeting, Parolin expressed “the Holy See’s profound interest in Lebanon,” stressing “the necessity for the ‘Country of Cedars’ to regain its stability,” and affirmed “the Vatican’s firm support for Lebanon and its full readiness to contribute to consolidating this stability.”

President Salam, Minister Raji, and Ambassador Awf had previously participated in the opening of the general debate of the eighty-first session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.