Latest news with #YoussefRaji
National News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
Foreign Minister Rajji in Cairo stresses Lebanon's commitment to full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, underlines Arab solidarity
NNA - In his delivered speech at the 163rd session of the Arab League Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Cairo, Lebanon's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Raji, affirmed that "the new Lebanese government is pursuing a clear policy based on asserting the State's sovereignty over all its territory, ensuring its exclusive control over weapons and its sole authority over the decision of war and peace, as well as adhering to the National Pact, the National Accord Document, and genuine power-sharing among the components of the Lebanese society, which strengthens national unity and effective participation." Addressing the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, Minister Rajji stressed that while Lebanon has fully adhered to the terms of the cessation of hostilities declaration, Israel insists on undermining this agreement and continuing its daily violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Rajji affirmed 'Lebanon's commitment to peaceful and diplomatic solutions and to the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, with all its provisions and clauses," emphasizing that "the legitimate Lebanese security institutions, especially the Lebanese Army, are determined to carry out these national tasks." The Minister also called on "the international community to pressure Israel to halt its attacks, compel it to immediately, fully, and unconditionally withdraw from all Lebanese territory, and return to the 1949 armistice agreement." Rajji reiterated Lebanon's "constant support for the Palestinian people and their just cause in establishing their independent state, and Lebanon's rejection of their displacement and resettlement in another country." The Foreign Minister also affirmed "Lebanon's rejection of any foreign interference in its internal affairs," emphasizing the adoption of a policy of positive neutrality and mutual respect for Arab sovereignty and joint Arab interests. Rajji also emphasized the importance of building strategic partnerships with Arab States and preventing any attempts to undermine their sovereignty. Minister Rajji expressed "the Lebanese state's readiness to cooperate with the Syrian Arab Republic to ensure the return the displaced persons, control the borders, and address all other standing issues between the two countries, most notably the issue of missing persons."
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Remarks on State's Monopoly on Arms
Lebanon's Foreign Minister, Youssef Raji, has summoned Iranian Ambassador to Beirut Mojtaba Amani to protest his criticism of recent attempts to disarm Hezbollah and limit weapons to state control. The move, a rare diplomatic gesture, comes amid discussions on national sovereignty and external interference. Sources at the Lebanese Foreign Ministry told Asharq Al-Awsat in remarks published Wednesday that Raji took the decision to summon Amani over statements viewed as a clear interference in internal Lebanese affairs. The ambassador is expected to appear at the ministry within the next two days, where he will be formally notified of Lebanon's objection to his comments. Officials described the move as 'unprecedented' because it is one of the few times a diplomat has been summoned over a social media post - specifically on X. In the post published Friday, Amani wrote that the 'disarmament project is a clear conspiracy against nations.' He went on to criticize what he described as US hypocrisy, saying: 'While the United States continues to supply the Zionist entity with the latest weapons and missiles, it pressures other nations to disarm or weaken their militaries under various pretexts.' He warned that countries that 'surrender to these disarmament demands become vulnerable to attack and occupation, as happened in Iraq, Libya, and Syria.' Amani stressed that Iran 'is fully aware of this dangerous conspiracy and its threat to regional security,' calling on others not to fall into what he described as an 'enemy trap.' While the ambassador did not mention Lebanon by name, his post was widely interpreted as a direct reference to ongoing Lebanese discussions about curbing Hezbollah's arsenal. President Joseph Aoun has been engaged in talks with Hezbollah representatives on resolving the weapons issue. On Sunday, Aoun confirmed that a decision had already been made to limit weapons to state institutions, saying he was waiting for the appropriate conditions to implement it. 'These conditions will define the path forward.' Hezbollah continues to openly acknowledge receiving military and financial support from Iran. However, its opponents accuse Tehran of repeatedly meddling in Lebanon's internal affairs through statements made by senior officials and diplomats.
Roya News
14-04-2025
- Business
- Roya News
Lebanon, Syria hold talks on refugees, border security
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam concluded an official visit to Damascus on Monday, leading a ministerial delegation that included Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, Defense Minister Michel Mansi, and Interior Minister Ahmad Hajar. The Lebanese officials met with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani to address key bilateral issues, including border control, refugee returns, and economic cooperation. A new chapter in Lebanese-Syrian ties Prime Minister Salam described the visit as the beginning of a 'new chapter' in relations between the two countries, rooted in mutual respect, trust, and non-interference. 'Syria's decisions belong to Syrians, and Lebanon's decisions belong to the Lebanese,' he stated. Border security, smuggling, and coordination Discussions centered on controlling border crossings and combating smuggling. Both sides agreed to continue the land and maritime border demarcation process, launched earlier during a Saudi-sponsored meeting in Jeddah between the countries' defense ministers. They also emphasized the importance of strengthening security coordination to preserve regional stability. Refugee return and detainee files The leaders agreed to cooperate in facilitating the safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, with support from the United Nations and friendly states. The Lebanese delegation raised the issue of Lebanese detainees and missing persons in Syria and requested Syria's help in legal cases, including the extradition of suspects involved in the 2013 Tripoli mosque bombings. Boosting economic and energy ties Talks also covered economic collaboration, including reopening trade and transit routes, importing oil and gas, and improving civil aviation between the two countries. The two sides agreed to revisit several bilateral agreements, including the framework of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council. Joint committee and future coordination A joint ministerial committee will be formed to follow up on shared files, comprising the ministries of foreign affairs, defense, interior, and justice. Additional discussions will include the ministries of economy, transport, energy, and social affairs. Sanctions, unity, and rebuilding Syria Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to Syria's territorial unity and called for lifting international sanctions on Syria to stimulate economic recovery and attract investment. They stressed that Syrian recovery would also benefit Lebanon—particularly in terms of refugee return, energy access, and trade.
Al Binaa
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Binaa
Honourable Members of Parliament: Accountability is the Path Forward With the Foreign Minister, Not Mere Debate
Since assuming office from the diplomatic corps, Foreign Minister Ambassador Youssef Raji has consistently framed his statements around a troubling equation, linking Lebanon's demand for Israel, as referred to in official Lebanese discourse, to fulfill its obligations under Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement, with what he considers Lebanon's own unfulfilled commitments, namely those under Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah. The minister's rhetoric reflects hostility toward the Resistance, which is his right as a citizen and politician. However, when such views are expressed in his capacity as a minister within a government that does not consider Hezbollah an enemy – one that, in fact, includes two Hezbollah-affiliated ministers just as it includes Raji as a representative of the Lebanese Forces, it constitutes an abuse of power. More critically, it reveals a profound ignorance of diplomatic principles, a fundamental misunderstanding of the foreign minister's role, and a failure to grasp the implications of Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement. His statements also indicate a detachment from the government's ministerial statement and a misreading of the President's oath of office. As observers, analysts, and researchers, it is our responsibility to dissect and expose the shallowness and legal contradictions of the minister's statements. However, it is incumbent upon members of parliament to take decisive action. We have already stated that the minister is abusing his authority by using his official platform to express his party's hostility toward another political force that is equally represented within the government. His role as foreign minister is defined by the government's ministerial statement, not by the Lebanese Forces' political stance. Furthermore, the foreign minister's position on Lebanon's foreign policy carries significant weight, it is akin to that of the President and Prime Minister in terms of how it binds the state, even if it ranks lower in hierarchy. As the head of the diplomatic corps, his words shape Lebanon's official posture with an even greater degree of precision. When he exploits this position to settle political scores with a rival party that is also part of the government, distorting the state's position in the process, the issue goes beyond abuse of power, it becomes a disqualification for office. Such conduct jeopardises Lebanon's national interests, weakens its negotiating position, and damages its diplomatic credibility, misrepresenting the President's and Prime Minister's stances, which fundamentally diverge from the minister's rhetoric. At its core, the issue is not about acknowledging that Resolution 1559 is referenced in Resolution 1701, nor is it about debating the state's exclusive right to bear arms, these are internal Lebanese matters on which there is consensus in principle. The real debate concerns the political timing of their implementation relative to other pressing priorities. Some argue that before the state can assert exclusive control over arms, Lebanon must first recover its occupied territories, secure an end to Israeli aggression, or establish a deterrent force to prevent future attacks. Others, including the minister and his party, disagree. But what do Resolution 1701, the ceasefire agreement, the ministerial statement, and the presidential oath actually say? The core issue lies in Israel's obligations to withdraw and cease hostilities, and the dangerous notion of tying these obligations to Lebanon's, such as the disarmament of the Resistance. This linkage undermines the legitimacy of Lebanon's demands, which the President, Prime Minister, UNIFIL statements, and the ceasefire agreement's oversight committee all frame as violations of Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire terms by Israel. The foreign minister is not more committed than the President to the oath's principle of state sovereignty over arms, nor more devoted than the Prime Minister to implementing the ministerial statement and extending state authority over all Lebanese territory. However, the oath and ministerial statement outline a roadmap for achieving these goals – a roadmap the minister's statements completely undermine, turning them into instruments that serve Israel's occupation and violations of Lebanese sovereignty. What exactly is the roadmap that the minister is attempting to dismantle? The presidential oath and ministerial statement do indeed present an alternative to the 'People, Army, and Resistance' triad, but not the version the minister advocates, which prioritises disarming the Resistance first, then demanding Israel's withdrawal, and finally pursuing a peace agreement and normalisation, as many of his party colleagues openly endorse. Instead, the official triad envisions a sequence: first, the Lebanese Army assumes control over the area south of the Litani River, where the state exercises exclusive authority over arms and extends full sovereignty to the international borders, requiring Israel to withdraw and cease its aggression. This follows the Resistance's prior withdrawal from the area in favour of the army. Second, once the state successfully asserts full control over all Lebanese territory between the Litani and the internationally recognised borders, a national security strategy is implemented to determine the future of the Resistance's arms, in line with the goal of exclusive state control and ensuring Lebanon's defense capabilities. This strategy, mandated by the presidential oath and adopted in the ministerial statement, is to be the outcome of a national dialogue. Third, only after the transitional stages outlined in this defense strategy are completed can the principle of exclusive state control over arms be fully realised, just as the abolition of political sectarianism is enshrined in the Constitution as a national goal but remains subject to transitional provisions. Yet, while no minister who supports abolishing sectarianism unilaterally questions the constitutionality of state institutions because sectarianism has not yet been eliminated, the foreign minister sees fit to challenge Lebanon's stance simply because Hezbollah's disarmament has not yet occurred. Returning to Resolution 1701, there is no need for lengthy debate, the text is clear. Like Resolution 1559 and the Taif Accord, it outlines a phased approach to implementation. The first phase, outlined in Articles 1–7, establishes a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. Lebanon's obligations in this phase include deploying its army and ensuring Hezbollah ceases fire, while Israel is required to immediately withdraw from all occupied Lebanese territory up to the Blue Line and halt all other hostile actions. Article 7 explicitly states that 'all parties must ensure that no actions violating Article 1 are taken that could undermine efforts toward a lasting solution'. Once this initial phase is completed, the second phase begins, aimed at establishing a permanent solution, including the creation of a weapons-free zone south of the Litani. The third phase encompasses remaining unresolved issues under a long-term framework, involving UN-mediated indirect negotiations to address disputed areas, particularly the Shebaa Farms, alongside further UN proposals regarding the implementation of the Taif Accord and Resolutions 1559 and 1680. The ceasefire agreement, built upon Resolution 1701, differs only in two aspects: first, instead of requiring immediate implementation, it granted a 60-day window for fulfilling the obligations of the cessation of hostilities, primarily Israel's withdrawal – a deadline that has long since expired. Second, whereas Resolution 1701 sequences the establishment of a weapons-free zone south of the Litani after hostilities end, the ceasefire agreement integrated this provision into the cessation process itself. These were concessions Lebanon made to facilitate Israeli compliance with Resolution 1701, compliance that Israel has nonetheless failed to deliver, while Lebanon has fulfilled all its obligations, as affirmed by the President, Prime Minister, the Lebanese Army's statements, UNIFIL reports, and the ceasefire oversight committee. The only entities disputing this are Israel and our own foreign minister, who, in theory, should be the guardian of Lebanon's diplomatic position. With all due respect to the MPs who have voiced objections to the minister's statements, the gravity of his remarks demands a clear and public stance from the government, both politically and procedurally. It also compels parliament to take action, through formal inquiries, interrogations, and, if necessary, a motion of no confidence in the minister.
National News
16-03-2025
- Politics
- National News
Raji bound for Brussels
NNA - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji departed for Brussels to represent Lebanon at the ninth European Union-organized conference on March 17 in support of Syria's future, titled "Standing with Syria and Meeting its Needs for a Successful Transition." Raji is scheduled to deliver Lebanon's speech at the opening session and hold meetings with foreign ministers and senior officials on the sidelines of the conference. ======== R.K
