The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Raji, made the issues of sovereignty, weapons, and relations with neighboring countries the focus of his official talks in the American capital, Washington. Raji stressed that Lebanon’s stability and prosperity are linked to extending state authority and ending what he described as the “occupation,” reiterating the government’s commitment to the direct negotiating path under American sponsorship to restore the remaining lands and ensure the return of the displaced to their villages.
This came during the Minister’s response to an invitation sent by the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington to participate in a dialogue meeting chaired by Elliott Abrams, and attended by an elite group of Council members, representatives of research centers, and media figures. The discussion covered all Lebanese developments, the reasons for the stumble in implementing the framework agreement, the future of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), as well as the nature of the expected relationship with the new Syrian government.
At the beginning of the meeting, Raji expressed his appreciation for the invitation, praising the role played by Elliott Abrams in support of the “Cedar Revolution.” He said: “Lebanon’s priority is to secure stability. The Lebanese want to restore Lebanon to being a cultural, touristic and economic center in the region, but this will not be achieved in light of the presence of weapons parallel to the legitimate weapons.”
The minister described the government’s decision to confine arms to the state as “courageous,” stressing that achieving stability and prosperity requires “ending the occupation and handing over its weapons to Hezbollah,” noting at the same time that “the implementation of the government’s decisions is progressing,” adding: “We want peace with all our neighbors.”
In a related context, Raji stressed “the need for Iran to stop interfering in Lebanese affairs,” considering that the military institution represents “the only hope” for the country, and expressed his thanks for the American aid provided to the Lebanese army, while looking forward to its continuation. He also renewed the government’s adherence to direct negotiations under American sponsorship, describing them as “the only way to recover lands and return people to their villages.”
In response to a question about the role of the Lebanese diaspora, Raji noted the absolute support provided by the Lebanese diaspora to their motherland, warning in return of the repercussions of the brain drain and young talents, stressing that securing their return is linked exclusively to rebuilding the state and its institutions.
Minister Raji’s move in Washington comes as part of efforts to present the official government position on sensitive sovereign and security issues, in addition to the future of UNIFIL forces and the nature of dealing with Syrian developments, which are issues that topped the extensive discussions hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations.
