There is a proposal to suspend work at 17 Lebanese embassies, not to close them

The Lebanese Foreign Minister, Abdullah Bou Habib, revealed the reasons for the Lebanese position on the war in Ukraine, and said within the “Lebanese Mashhad” program with the journalist Mona Saliba on Al-Hurra TV that neutrality and disassociation from oneself is about Arab and Islamic issues and problems, not global problems, and we considered that what happened in Ukraine is illegal and contradicts with The United Nations and its principles. This is not an issue of neutrality, but an issue of principle, which is that we are against military intervention to resolve outstanding issues.
Bou Habib, who indicated that he felt European and American satisfaction with Lebanon’s position on this issue, acknowledged at the same time that external pressures had been imposed on us, but our decision was principled and we took it before anyone spoke to us about this because we considered that what had happened was a mistake. The Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that the Russian ambassador in Lebanon was not comfortable with Lebanon’s position on the war in Ukraine, but was resentful.
On the reason for Lebanon rushing to take its position against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Bou Habib said that Lebanon was subjected to the same thing that Ukraine is subjected to, so we are with dialogue and against military interventions. He explained that the Lebanese position was taken between the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister and between him.
Regarding the Gulf turn towards Lebanon and the talk about the imminent return of the Gulf ambassadors to Lebanon, Bou Habib said, We welcome this news, but we have not yet received diplomatically any indication of the ambassadors’ return.
Regarding Lebanon’s response to the Kuwaiti initiative, Bou Habib said Lebanon’s response was welcome in Kuwait, and we did not hear reservations in Kuwait or in Saudi Arabia. And whether he supports the implementation of Resolution 1559, Bou Habib replied, of course, I am with one army for Lebanon, but I am not ready to accept a civil war for its implementation. He added, “Let us sit and think with others, with Arab countries and with the United Nations, how we can implement this resolution.”
On the reasons that led to the new Gulf turn, Bou Habib replied, “There is no doubt that the French mediation had a great impact.” He also asked: Did the vacuum created by the Gulf peoples by abandoning Lebanon weaken what they call their opponent or strengthen it?! If they are not present, their opponent will become stronger, and I think that this matter has affected their position today. When he was asked whether he meant Hezbollah, Bou Habib answered, of course, and they always call him. The Foreign Minister did not want to link the positive Gulf position with the possible nuclear agreement with Iran. He considered that Lebanon’s interest was for the nuclear agreement to be reached, as well as for an agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia on the Yemeni file.
He said that the Iranian foreign minister did not ask for anything during his recent visit to Lebanon, and he was quoted as saying that there are two unresolved points with the Americans in the Vienna negotiations, and God willing, they will be resolved soon.
Bou Habib announced that Lebanon supports Syria’s return to the Arab League, but it appears that there are European and American pressures on Arab countries that it is still too early for Syria to return to the Arab League. As for the possibility of this leading to the return of Syria’s influence in Lebanese politics, Bou Habib said, it will undoubtedly have an impact. He added that his personal opinion is that the Syrians have allies and friends in Lebanon and they do not need to intervene directly. He welcomed Lebanon’s openness to the relationship with Syria, because it is our door and window to the Arab countries and through them we transport our products, but at the same time he stressed the need to take into account Caesar’s law, as we fear it and proceed with everything step by step so that Caesar’s law does not apply to us.
As for the possibility of his visit to Syria to discuss the refugee issue, he considered that when any positive sign appeared and in the interest of Lebanon, I would go to Syria. He accused the international community of financing the survival of the displaced in Lebanon, quoting some of them as saying, “You caught them.” He considered that the solution requires negotiations with Syria, which are to a large extent prohibited, and sanctions do not allow us to conduct such negotiations.
In response to a question about whether Lebanon is required from outside today to agree to keep the refugees in it until the aid comes to it, Bou Habib indicated that he understood this in one way or another, “from all of us.”
In another field, Bou Habib expected that Lebanon would present this month its response to the recent proposal of the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, regarding the demarcation of the border with Israel.
Regarding what hinders diplomatic formations until now, he answered frankly, that it is the quota, so everyone wants his share, and if I say otherwise, “that he is a liar.” He promised to try to find a solution before the next cabinet meeting.
When he was asked about the outstanding shares, he replied, “Most of the shares have expired. Speaker Berri’s share has expired for a long time.” Regarding the share of the President of the Republic, he said, there are small issues that we want to resolve, and God willing, both will be resolved, but nothing is certain. It is certain that this government will issue the formations in full and in the full meaning of the word.
On the possibility of reducing the number of Lebanese embassies due to the financial crisis, Bou Habib revealed a proposal to suspend work at 17 embassies, not close them. As for the possibility of reducing the salaries of diplomats abroad, he said, “This is possible. I spoke with the Minister of Finance on the matter, and we worked on a proposal to reduce 14 percent of the Foreign Ministry’s budget.” We may agree with the Ministry of Finance to set a maximum wage.
He stressed that the logistical preparations for the expatriate vote were completed, reassuring to ensure the transparency of this process.