Ang Amerikano na Embahador sa Kanlurang Zoutar ay nag-aalok ng kapayapaan sa harap ng Kongreso: "Ang kalagayan ng Lebanon ay mahirap at lubos na mahirap"

Beirut – Mansour Shaaban

The US Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, conducted a field visit to the western part of the town of Zoutar, accompanied by a delegation from the Council for Development and Reconstruction. He began his tour at the Annunciation Church, coinciding with the flight of an Israeli drone over the area. Meanwhile, Israeli military vehicles were observed moving within the eastern part of Zoutar. These developments occurred as official meetings intensified to discuss the topic of “negotiations” and recent consultations, ahead of the preparatory conference for the International Conference in Support of the Army and Internal Security Forces, scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, in Paris.

President Joseph Aoun discussed this file with Defense Minister General Michel Mounzer, as well as the missions being carried out by the army in the south. Yesterday, Finance Minister Yassin Jaber opened the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Beirut.

In Pakistan, Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad al-Hajar and his counterpart, Mohsin Naqvi, signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the exchange of prisoners between the two countries. Al-Hajar also met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Zardari expressed his “concern over the continued instability and hostile actions in Lebanon and the Middle East,” and affirmed “Pakistan’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity.” He stated that his country “supports diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation, sustainable peace, and conflict resolution through dialogue and in accordance with international law.”

Meanwhile, all stakeholders closely followed the parliamentary “accountability” session of the government, convened by Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri. The parliamentary trends were reflected in the speeches of the deputies, and the session on “granting or withdrawing confidence” will be completed today.

In his address, President Salam described the “situation in Lebanon” as “difficult and very difficult,” emphasizing that “exiting the crisis is not impossible, provided that efforts are coordinated and the national interest is placed above other considerations.” He clarified that “there is no sustainable reconstruction without financing, no financing without trust, and no trust without a capable state.” He reaffirmed the commitment to “completing financial and banking reforms and reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.”

He added, “According to the World Bank’s assessment of the first war, which began on October 8, 2023, the total cost reached approximately $14 billion, of which about $7.2 billion was in material damages and about $6.8 billion in economic losses resulting from disrupted activities, declining production, and reduced revenues. Of course, the greatest cost was more than 4,000 martyrs and more than 16,000 wounded. As for the recent war, which began on March 2, its direct cost so far, according to the World Bank’s preliminary estimate, ranges between $3 and $4 billion. This figure does not include the economic cost, which exceeds direct material destruction and reaches, at the very least so far, between $4 and $5 billion. Here too, the greatest cost is, of course, more than 4,000 martyrs and more than 12,000 wounded. Consequently, the two wars together have certainly cost Lebanon more than $20 billion, and their total cost may exceed $27 billion once the accounting for the 2026 war is completed.”

Regarding negotiations with Israel, Salam said, “You all know that the tripartite framework agreed upon in the negotiations serves as a reference in the negotiation track. However, it is not an agreement in the legal sense of the word, but rather a political framework. Certainly, it is not a finalized treaty to be presented to the Council of Ministers for ratification. Nevertheless, the tripartite framework included a series of executive measures, albeit without a timetable, leading to a gradual Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army.”

He continued, “It is the state’s responsibility to choose the path that is least costly to the Lebanese people in achieving its objectives. Negotiation itself is not a surrender of rights, but a means to reclaim them through diplomatic channels.”