Borrell in Beirut: 1701 Implementation Key to Comprehensive Settlement

European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, held meetings on Thursday with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati as part of his efforts to prevent the Gaza war from escalating further.

During their meeting in Ain el-Tineh, Berri emphasized that Lebanon does not seek war but reserves the right to defend itself. In response, Borrell urged Lebanon to resolve its internal issues, especially the presidential deadlock, noting that the country cannot safeguard its foreign interests without domestic unity.

The EU Delegation to Lebanon stated that Borrell’s visit was aimed at discussing the situation in and around Gaza, as well as wider political issues, including the conflict’s impact on neighboring countries and their roles in peace and stability efforts.

Borrell also met with caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun, and former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat. At a joint press conference with Bou Habib, Borrell called for a de-escalation of tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, where fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah persist.

Borrell remarked that since his last visit in January, the region has been fraught with tension, but a full-scale conflict in southern Lebanon has been avoided, which he described as “good news.” He stressed the importance of reducing military tensions and encouraged all parties to continue on this path, acknowledging that the EU was fully engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation, though he admitted, “I don’t have a magic wand.”

He further highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict, citing United Nations figures that more than 4,000 residential buildings in Lebanon have been destroyed and over 110,000 Lebanese have been displaced from their homes along the border. He noted that similar displacement has occurred on the Israeli side.

Borrell underscored the need for continued efforts towards comprehensive peace in the region and called for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. The resolution, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, calls for the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers to be the only armed forces in southern Lebanon. While Lebanon and Israel reached an agreement on their maritime border in 2022, land border disputes remain unresolved.

Bou Habib reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the “comprehensive and balanced implementation” of Resolution 1701. After his meeting with Borrell, Jumblat praised Borrell’s stance on the Gaza conflict and expressed admiration for other international figures such as UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Earlier in the week, Borrell visited Cairo, where he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as part of his regional efforts to address the escalating conflict.