– We see that the situation in Lebanon is going from bad to worse, he says.
Eide refers to the situation in the south of the country as the most dramatic, but emphasizes that people throughout Lebanon live in constant fear of further escalation.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is in New York, where he is participating in the high-level week in the UN General Assembly. He says that the development in the Middle East affects almost all the meetings he has during the event.
– There is a new seriousness to the talks, which are about a real fear that the war in Gaza will continue to spill over into Lebanon. At the same time, there is a common recognition that none of the crises we are currently witnessing in the Middle East can be resolved by military action. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 must be implemented, he says, referring to the resolution that ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
Eide also emphasizes the need for a ceasefire in Gaza.
– The conflict in the Middle East is complex, and a cease-fire in Gaza will help reduce the level of tension in the entire region, he says.
The Foreign Ministry’s travel advice for Lebanon has been set at the very highest level, which means that all travel to the country is advised against.
– We encourage Norwegians who are in Lebanon to leave the country while it is still possible, says the foreign minister.
#Eide #situation #Lebanon #bad #worse
2024-09-24 00:18:49
