Latest news with #Resolution1701
LBCI
10 hours ago
- Politics
- LBCI
UN Coordinator warns Lebanon's window for reform won't stay open indefinitely
While briefing the U.N. Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 1701 on Thursday, Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert warned that Lebanon's opportunity for meaningful change 'will not stay open indefinitely.' Speaking alongside Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Hennis-Plasschaert welcomed the recent steps taken by the Lebanese authorities and the progress of the Lebanese Armed Forces. Still, she stressed the uphill path ahead, citing the urgent need to tackle systemic corruption, clientelism, and the issue of arms outside state control. 'There can be no turning back,' she said. 'This work must be done. It must be done to restore public trust. To build investor and depositor confidence. To preserve stability. And certainly, it must be done to move the needle on financing for recovery and reconstruction.' While acknowledging that state monopoly over arms won't happen overnight, she called for an overdue roadmap with clear timelines and concrete plans. 'The question of non-state arms is multi-faceted,' she noted, 'and demands foresight and a dedicated framework.' Addressing the fragile security situation, Hennis-Plasschaert pointed to Israel's continued presence in five positions and two buffer zones, as well as ongoing airstrikes. 'This new status quo cannot and must not be accepted as normal,' she said, warning that it will not bring the stability the parties claim to seek. She also highlighted Lebanon's exposure to regional tensions, referencing recent escalations between Iran and Israel and developments in Syria. A political-level track is urgently needed, she said, to complement military mechanisms and help resolve unsettled issues. 'Short of this, sustainable solutions will continue to elude both sides.' Concluding, Hennis-Plasschaert cautioned that Lebanon risks being sidelined as regional dynamics evolve. It's "a harsh reality that must be acknowledged,' she said, while calling for sustained international support.
L'Orient-Le Jour
13 hours ago
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
EU pledges over $600 million to support areas affected by war in Lebanon
BEIRUT — The European Union said on Thursday it is allocating more than $600 million to support areas affected by the 13-month war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel. The sum is nearly half of its overall budget in Lebanon, which exceeds $ 1 billion. The announcement followed meetings between EU and member state ambassadors with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on July 10, 11 and 17, respectively. In a statement, the ambassadors "underscored the substantial and ongoing support from the EU and its member states to Lebanon, including in areas affected by the conflict across the country." "Beyond humanitarian aid, most of this funding supports essential sectors such as education, healthcare, social protection, water and sanitation, agriculture, while also contributing to economic recovery by creating jobs and supporting the private sector," the statement added. The EU has also allocated "additional funds to mitigate the impact of the conflict on the country's security and stability." These include bolstering the Lebanese Army's capabilities and deployment in the south, clearing debris and unexploded munitions and strengthening border management. "A significant portion of this support is not included in the $600 million package, the statement detailed. The ambassadors also stressed "the crucial role of UNIFIL in maintaining stability and security in the south, a role that will remain indispensable in the future." hey also called on "all parties to fully implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, notably by ensuring the state's monopoly over weapons, and to respect the November 2024 cease-fire mechanism." As every year, the U.N. Security Council is expected in August to decide whether it will renew UNIFIL's mandate. A ceasefire went into effect on Nov. 27, 2024, after 13 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel. However, Israel has continued near-daily strikes in Lebanon and continues to occupy Lebanese territory in southern Lebanon. The truce deal stipulated that Hezbollah withdraws its fighters north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the Israeli border, with only the Lebanese Army and U.N. peacekeepers deployed in the sector. Israel, for its part, was supposed to fully withdraw its troops from Lebanon and cease its attacks. Economic recovery The ambassadors also discussed with Lebanese officials the government's commitment to long-delayed financial, judicial and governance reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy. They welcomed steps taken since the start of the year, including Parliament's approval of a banking secrecy law and the appointment of officials to key judicial and regulatory posts. But the diplomats emphasized the urgent need for Parliament to approve a bank resolution law that meets international standards. They also pressed the government to draft and adopt a comprehensive strategy for distributing financial sector losses – the so-called GAP Law – and sought updates on the draft law for judicial independence and a new media law. Lebanon has been mired in a deep economic crisis since 2019. Restructuring its collapsed banking sector – a key demand of the international community – remains stalled amid a political and financial deadlock, blocking progress on talks with the International Monetary Fund for a much-needed bailout package.
MTV Lebanon
17 hours ago
- Business
- MTV Lebanon
17 Jul 2025 17:34 PM EU and Member State Ambassadors discuss priorities and USD 600 million support with Lebanese Leadership
EU and Member State Ambassadors met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on respectively 10, 11, and 17 July 2025. During these meetings, the Ambassadors underscored the EU and its Member States' substantial and ongoing support for Lebanon, including in conflict-affected areas across the country. The EU and its Member States current funding in those areas amounts to more than USD 600 million, representing nearly half of their ongoing engagement in Lebanon which stands at over USD 1 billion. Beyond humanitarian assistance, the majority of this funding supports critical sectors such as education, healthcare, social protection, water and sanitation, and agriculture, while also contributing to economic recovery through job creation and private sector support. Additional funding is also allocated to help mitigate the impact of the conflict on the security and stability of the country, including by supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces' capabilities and deployment in the south, clearing rubble and unexploded ordnance, and strengthening border management. A significant part of that support is not included in the USD 600 million. In this context, the Ambassadors highlighted the crucial role of UNIFIL in maintaining stability and security in the south, a role that remains indispensable in the future. They emphasized the utmost need for all parties to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, including ensuring a state monopoly on arms, and to abide by the November 2024 ceasefire mechanism. The Ambassadors also discussed with their interlocutors the government's commitment and plans for the much-needed financial, judicial, and governance reforms that can place the country on the path to recovery. They commended the authorities on the steps taken since the beginning of the year, including Parliament's approval of the Banking Secrecy Law and the filling of key vacancies in the judiciary and regulatory authorities, among others. The Ambassadors stressed the need for Parliament to swiftly endorse a Bank Resolution Law that meets international standards. They similarly called on the Government to urgently draft and adopt a comprehensive strategy for the distribution of financial sector losses (the so-called "GAP Law"), in a way that ensures clarity, fairness, and alignment with international best practices. They additionally inquired about the status of the law on the independence of the judiciary and the new media law that should serve to uphold media freedoms and to strengthen accountability. The Ambassadors concluded by reiterating to President Aoun, Prime Minister Salam, and Speaker Berri the EU and Member States' commitment to Lebanon and their willingness to support the country as it moves forward.
Nahar Net
19 hours ago
- Business
- Nahar Net
EU and European ambassadors discuss priorities and $600M support with Lebanese Leadership
by Naharnet Newsdesk 17 July 2025, 14:47 EU and member state ambassadors met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on respectively 10, 11, and 17 July 2025, the EU Delegation to Lebanon said. During these meetings, the ambassadors underscored the EU and its member states' 'substantial and ongoing support for Lebanon, including in conflict-affected areas across the country,' a statement said. The EU and its member states current funding in those areas amounts to more than USD 600 million, representing nearly half of their ongoing engagement in Lebanon which stands at over USD 1 billion. Beyond humanitarian assistance, the majority of this funding supports critical sectors such as education, healthcare, social protection, water and sanitation, and agriculture, while also contributing to economic recovery through job creation and private sector support. Additional funding is also allocated to help mitigate the impact of the conflict on the security and stability of the country, including by supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces' capabilities and deployment in the south, clearing rubble and unexploded ordnance, and strengthening border management. A significant part of that support is not included in the USD 600 million. In this context, the ambassadors highlighted 'the crucial role of UNIFIL in maintaining stability and security in the south, a role that remains indispensable in the future.' They emphasized the 'utmost need for all parties to fully implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, including ensuring a state monopoly on arms, and to abide by the November 2024 ceasefire mechanism.' The ambassadors also discussed with their interlocutors the government's 'commitment and plans for the much-needed financial, judicial, and governance reforms that can place the country on the path to recovery.' They also commended the authorities on 'the steps taken since the beginning of the year, including Parliament's approval of the Banking Secrecy Law and the filling of key vacancies in the judiciary and regulatory authorities, among others.' Moreover, the Ambassadors stressed the need for parliament to swiftly endorse a Bank Resolution Law that meets international standards. They similarly called on the Government to urgently draft and adopt a comprehensive strategy for the distribution of financial sector losses (the so-called "GAP Law"), in a way that ensures clarity, fairness, and alignment with international best practices. They additionally inquired about the status of the law on the independence of the judiciary and the new media law that should serve to uphold media freedoms and to strengthen accountability. The ambassadors concluded by reiterating to President Aoun, Prime Minister Salam and Speaker Berri the EU and member states' 'commitment to Lebanon and their willingness to support the country as it moves forward.'
Nahar Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Report: US military team to visit Beirut to discuss 'new roadmap'
by Naharnet Newsdesk 16 July 2025, 14:49 A U.S. military delegation will soon arrive in Beirut to meet with senior Lebanese Army officers and present 'a new roadmap that is stricter in the implementation of Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement south and north of the Litani,' al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday. The new roadmap will ask the army to 'document all the stages of the dismantlement of military facilities and the handover of weapons, according to transparent standards that allow for inspection and international supervision,' the daily quoted informed sources as saying. 'Officers in the South Litani sector have refused a U.S.-Israeli request to blow up the resistance's (Hezbollah's) facilities and infrastructure instead of dismantling them and confiscating the weapons,' al-Akhbar added.
