Greece, Cyprus and the European Union’s top diplomat are among the ten foreign ministers of European countries to sign a joint statement emphasising their full support and solidarity to the people and government of Lebanon.
The statement was issued on Tuesday and they condemn Hezbollah’s attacks and said the priority is to avoid further spread of the conflict with Iran.
The foreign affairs ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, along with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Lebanese government in delivering humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict and to preserve Lebanon’s internal cohesion.
In the joint statement, the ministers said, “We express our condolences to the family of the victims and our solidarity to the civilian population impacted by this war both in Lebanon and Israel.”
“We call on the entire international community to participate in this vital humanitarian effort to ensure dignified living conditions for the many victims of this conflict,” it added.
“We support the historic and courageous decisions taken by the Lebanese Government. There is no other way to preserve Lebanon from foreign interference than by strengthening its State, its institutions and sovereignty.
“In that regard, we call for direct political negotiation between Lebanon and Israel, that can contribute to putting a durable end to this conflict and set the conditions for peaceful regional coexistence.”
The ministers clarified their support of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Lebanese Security Forces and urged Lebanon to implement IMF-aligned financial and economic reforms so its security forces can ultimately serve as the sole guarantors of national sovereignty.
They urged all sides to deescalate and return to the ceasefire framework under UN Resolution 1701, while calling for the protection of civilians, aid workers, peacekeepers and key infrastructure.
“We reaffirm our concern regarding the forced displacement of over 1m people in Lebanon. We call on Israel to avoid a further widening of the conflict including through a ground operation on Lebanese territory. We strongly reaffirm that the territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected,” the statement read.
The Foreign Ministers reaffirmed strong support for UNIFIL’s mandate, condemned recent attacks on its peacekeepers, and urged all sides to ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel while maintaining coordination channels, praising its work under difficult conditions.
Source: ANA-MPA
