YouSaid · the spoken record

General Michel Aoun

lines on the record: 62
first: 2017-09-24
most recent: 2020-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Lebanon and its people experienced great sympathy after disaster struck Beirut. Many countries and people rushed to express their solidarity and extend a helping hand. Perhaps our world has reclaimed its morality out of Lebanon’s suffering, and that humanity has regained some of its stature in a materialistic world, which venerates the right of force and injustice. The theme for this year’s meeting is: “Reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism through multilateral action.” This is an encouraging signal for the future we want and for the United Nations we need. It can be summarized with one expression: “Solidarity for good”. Thank you.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“In this context, we would also like to recall the 2002 Beirut Peace Initiative. On the first centenary of the proclamation of Greater Lebanon, we can only affirm that the Lebanese people, in all their diversities, continue to keep Lebanon great and unified, without division or partition. Ladies and Gentlemen, This is the first time in the history of the United Nations that the General Assembly session is held virtually because an invisible virus has prevented us from meeting together and has compelled us to communicate through the video-conference technique. There is no doubt. The world after Covid-19 will not be the same as before. We hope that it will be a more humane world. We all stand united in helplessness from the loss of loved ones and the lack of oxygen.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“It specifically requests US mediation for the necessary negotiations to define and delineate its maritime borders according to international law and in a manner which preserves Lebanon’s sovereignty and rights to its resources. Today, seventy-five years after the inception of the United Nations Organization, and in light of increased dialogue about solutions in the Middle East, we reiterate our attachment to the principles on which this organization was founded. Most notably, we commit to the inviolability of internationally recognized borders. We underscore that any negotiations, regardless of their formula or the party conducting them, must take into account sustainable solutions sponsored by concerned parties and in various UN resolutions, notably in Resolution 194, which guarantees Palestinian refugees the right of return.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Israel must cease its land, sea and air violations of Lebanese sovereignty and stop trespassing in Lebanon’s airspace, using it to strike Syrian territories. The international community must also urge Israel to cooperate fully with UNIFIL, demarcate what remains of the Blue Line, and immediately withdraw from Northern Ghajar, the Shebaa Farms and the Kfarshouba Hills. Lebanon emphasizes its absolute and full rights in its territorial waters, its natural oil and gas resources, and all of its maritime borders according to international law. It looks forward to the role of the United Nations and the friendly countries to help ascertain its rights.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Lebanon welcomes the Security Council resolution extending the UNIFIL mandate, interpreting it as a strong and unifying message of support to preserve stability therein. It lauds UNIFIL’s sacrifices and grants priority to preserving the safety of its personnel and ensuring their protection. Lebanon highly appreciates the close and continuous cooperation between the Force and the Lebanese Army. In this context, Lebanon reiterates its commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), because we believe that it will consolidate the foundations of stability and security in South Lebanon and benefits the entire region’s stability. Any violation thereof will further complicate the situation. Therefore, Lebanon again calls on the international community to bind Israel to its full obligations in this respect.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The Lebanese Government seeks help to implement the plan it had adopted for the return of the displaced Syrians now that circumstances for their return are more favorable. Pending the desired return, and confirming the principle of common responsibility and burden sharing among States, Lebanon repeats its call on donor countries to honor their pledges and find a mechanism to follow-up on their commitments. The latter need to double their financial contributions, and provide direct assistance to Lebanese governmental institutions and host communities, in line with Lebanon’s response plan adopted in collaboration with the United Nations. Lebanon has made a commitment to the international community to carry out a package of administrative, financial and economic reforms aimed at facilitating the economic recovery to which we all aspire.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Although Lebanon is not an asylum country, and its Constitution does not accept final settlement, it has dealt with the displacement problem based on humanitarian principles and international law, in particular the principle of non-refoulement. Nevertheless, today, amidst Lebanon’s successive crises, the number of displaced amounts to one-third of its population. The displacement has exacerbated the economic, social, health and humanitarian problems of the host community. Lebanon demands intensified endeavors for the safe and dignified return of the displaced, without linking it to a political solution in Syria, especially since most of the Syrian territories have become safe.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Indeed, teams came from several countries and conducted the necessary research. We are still waiting for information about the mystery of the ship and for satellite pictures to clear the ambiguities in this part of the investigation. The results will end up in the Judicial Council under Lebanese sovereign jurisdiction. Ladies and Gentlemen, Lebanon is in the middle of an unprecedented crisis. Calamities have erupted all at once — a severe recession due to the economic and financial situation, the COVID-19 crisis and its repercussions, and finally the Beirut Port disaster. Lebanon’s very core has been stricken from both a humanitarian and economic point of view. The situation is extremely critical. In addition, the Syrian displacement crisis has been lingering for ten years.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The soundest solution may be to divide the devastated area into geographical zones and let every country that wishes to help commit to a specific zone and undertake its reconstruction directly. In the course of the investigation, all Lebanese want to know the truth and see justice done. We have forwarded the blast file to the Judicial Council, the highest penal judicial body in Lebanon. A judicial investigator has been appointed and is carrying out his probes and procedures. Immediately after the blast, we asked for international technical assistance to help provide us with satellite pictures at the moment of explosion, discover the itinerary and history of the ammonium, nitrate- loaded vessel from its departure to its arrival at the Beirut Port, and analyze the soil, materials, and anything else that might unveil what happened.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The Lebanese Army has undertaken the management of emergency relief in collaboration with other UN agencies, the Red Cross, licensed NGOs, and volunteers. It has conducted survey operations to determine the damages and assess needs and priorities. The Army received local and international aid, sorted it, and distributed it. It has been very keen on adopting the strictest criteria of probity and transparency. As for the next phase, the Army is dedicated to reconstruction. Its advanced emergency cell oversees the reconstruction of the partially affected residential and commercial units. However, the greatest problem is the totally demolished neighborhoods and facilities. There is a tremendous need for support from the international community to rebuild them.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The Port of Beirut, the vital crossing for economic activity in Lebanon, was not only destroyed, but around 200,000 residential units were also damaged. Many of them are uninhabitable. Almost 300,000 people lost their homes, with winter approaching. In addition, the infrastructure, the power grid and the water network have been tremendously devastated. The fallout will not only affect economic activity, but will also cause a sharp increase in poverty rates — already at 45 per cent before the blast. The World Bank estimated economic losses from the explosion at around $3.5 billion, material losses at around $4.5 billion, and urgent reconstruction needs at around $2 billion. Beirut was declared a disaster-stricken city.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“All of his assistance has had a huge positive impact on our country and our people. Practically, it provided urgent medical and food relief, along with reconstruction materials. Morally, his great solidarity made our people feel that they are not alone, but rather have in this world brothers and sisters in humanity who did not hesitate to support it. Ladies and Gentlemen, Beirut is trying today to rise from its ruins. Indeed, with the solidarity of all the Lebanese people and your support, it will heal its wounds and rise as it has done over and over again throughout history. The earthquake-like explosion that hit our capital left a deep scar on the Lebanese conscience. Indeed, the pictures of the victims, the pain of the injured, and the tears of those who lost a beloved one, will never be wiped away. Material damages are unprecedented.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Antonio Guterres, for his continuous efforts as head of this international organization, and for his endeavors to support Lebanon after the Beirut Port explosion on August 4. He organized the Beirut Support Conference on 9 August, to mobilize donor pledges and provide basic relief assistance, at the commendable initiative of French President and friend Emmanuel Macron. Moreover, on my own behalf and on behalf of the Lebanese people, I wish to extend our thanks to all Heads of State who participated in the conference and offered support, as well as to all brotherly and friendly countries, governmental and non-governmental organizations, which rushed to provide aid and assistance. In particular, I wish to thank His Holiness Pope Francis, who dedicated a universal day of prayer for Lebanon.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Your Excellency, Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly, Your Excellency, Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the outset, allow me to thank you, Mr. President, for chairing this historic seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly. I would have loved to congratulate you in person rather than through the video-teleconference technique that was imposed on us by the current global health situation. I would also like to extend my acknowledgment to H.E. Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande my recognition of his efforts in directing the last session of the General Assembly, especially with the disruption of the organization’s work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. I wish to pay tribute to the Secretary-General, Mr.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“This has made many peoples incapable of taking political decisions beyond their borders and prevented them from coming together and cooperating. Many opportunities for conflict resolution have been lost and the door has been opened wide for chaos. The United Nations has undertaken many initiatives to make the voice of peace and development heard. Some have succeeded while many have not attained the desired outcome. We hope that the United Nations today will promote the general principles, international law and charters that serve as the only references for safeguarding our rights. No justice shall rise, no right shall be granted and no peace shall be established as long as the principle prevailing in our world is “might makes right”.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Since then the world has known many wars and conflicts, especially in the Middle East, the constant flashpoint where the temperature rises or falls but never cools down. It is our peoples who continue to pay a high price with their security, stability, peace, economy and even demographic diversity. The core of the problem is the same — a contradiction between the interests of the strong and the rights of the weak. Thus, principles, logic and justice are lost and solutions disintegrate. The political aberration prevailing today has cost the world its stability, now that all the guiding milestones have been undermined and there are no more criteria to confine and control differences and thereby solve them according to the applicable rules.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I also reiterate that Lebanon retains its sovereign rights over the occupied areas of Shebaa Farms, Kfar Shouba Hills and northern Ghajar. We will spare no effort to affirm our internationally recognized land borders, which are firmly documented at the United Nations, and to demarcate our maritime borders under United Nations supervision, while welcoming help from any country in this respect, at a time when exploratory oil and gas drilling operations will start in our territorial waters by the end of the year, in accordance with international laws and norms. As Lebanon embarks on preparations to celebrate the centenary of Greater Lebanon, the United Nations, founded on 24 October 1945, will be celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Israel’s violations of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) have not ceased, and neither have the continued acts of aggression against Lebanon’s sovereignty by land, sea and air. Last month’s blatantly hostile attack on a residential area in the heart of Beirut is a serious infringement of the resolution, while the fires that lasted for days in the occupied Shebaa farms as a result of incendiary Israeli shells represent an international environmental crime that demands that those who caused them be condemned. From this rostrum, I want to reiterate that Lebanon is a peace-loving country and that we are committed to resolution 1701 (2006) and always strive to respect it, but that commitment does not obviate our natural inalienable right to legitimately defend ourselves, our land and our people by all available means.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The Judaization of Al-Quds, the policy of systematic colonization, the laws that contravene human rights, the recognition of the annexation of lands occupied by force, as in the case of the Golan Heights, the election promises to annex new lands, with all the leaks about the so-called deal of the century, changing the borders of some States and undermining their territorial unity, while eliminating the Palestinian cause and keeping the Palestinians where they are, as well as the damage that Lebanon is likely to suffer as a result because it hosts a large number of refugees — all of these undermine any chance for peace in the Middle East and unquestionably point to a dark, unknown future. And yet people continue to have rights however long it takes.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The crisis in the Middle East, which has lingered for decades, is becoming more complicated, because all approaches to reaching a settlement and all of Israel’s practices run counter to the founding principles of the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In a related context, I want to warn against the danger of reducing the services provided to Palestinian refugees by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which have added to the social and fiscal strains weighing on them and on us and threaten to turn Palestinian school students into young people seeking revenge. In that regard, I want to note Lebanon’s categorical rejection of any attempt to undermine or modify UNRWA’s mandate. I call on the countries that contribute to its budget to double their contributions in order to enable it to restore its vital role.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The fact is that the experience of displaced peoples anywhere in the world as they wait for political solutions is not at all reassuring. We have seen two discouraging experiences in this respect in our history, one in 1974, after war broke out in Cyprus and a large number of Cypriots took refuge in Lebanon. They quickly returned to their country as soon as a ceasefire was declared, without waiting for a political settlement, which has not been achieved to this day. The other began in 1948, when waves of Palestinians were displaced to the countries of diaspora and particularly to Lebanon, where they are still living in camps, nurturing the dream of return, and where they have now been awaiting a political settlement and the implementation of resolution 194 (III) for 71 years.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“On the other hand, we have many question marks about the positions of certain influential States and relevant international organizations that have been obstructing this return, and about the allegations that the security situation in Syria is dangerous. They sow fear among the displaced, in a clear indication of the political perspectives under which the displacement crisis is being tackled, as if the displaced have become hostages in an international game, to be swapped when settlements and solutions are imposed. That is very likely to drive Lebanon to promote the return process that has begun, in agreement with the Syrian Government, in order to resolve this dilemma, which is threatening our very existence.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The international community cannot content itself with merely providing minimal assistance to the displaced and refugees in the regions where they are displaced, while ignoring programmes for their safe and dignified return. The conditions for that return are in place. In fact, as international reports have shown, the security situation in most of Syria is now stable, while military confrontations are limited to the Idlib area, and the Syrian Government has officially declared over and over again that it will welcome the return of the displaced. To date, around 370,000 of them have left Lebanon, of whom more than 250,000 have returned to Syria with no reports that they have been persecuted or mistreated.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is a serious threat to Lebanon’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and has aggravated our economic crisis. As Lebanon strives to tackle this difficult economic situation, it is also relying on a set of drastic structural measures and reforms to its economic and financial system, in cooperation with the relevant international institutions. However, I also want to call on all world leaders to work for the safe return of Syria’s displaced persons, especially considering that it is certainly not Lebanon’s sole responsibility to address this crisis but rather a shared international duty that makes it imperative that we all work together urgently to find solutions to it.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“While the fierce war that raged across many countries in the Middle East in the past decade has subsided somewhat, its effects and consequences for our countries and societies are becoming more widespread and entrenched, especially at the economic and social levels. The theme of the General Assembly’s debates this year is “Galvanizing the multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion”. I would like to once again remind the Assembly of the enormously adverse impact of the Syrian displacement crisis and its repercussions for Lebanon in the security, political, social, economic and environmental arenas, as well as on our infrastructure and growth and unemployment rates.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In that context, Lebanon, as one the first signatories of the Paris Agreement, joined the group of countries supporting the initiative of President Van der Bellen of Austria for a more ambitious approach to climate action. Lebanon has also taken numerous steps this year to promote the role of women. In fact, the Lebanese Government has adopted a comprehensive national plan to put into effect Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, and has begun implementing it. We have also completed all the steps related to the work of our National Commission for Human Rights and Torture Prevention Committee.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The Academy is all the more important because it embodies an international project for fostering the convergence of various cultures, religions and ethnicities, while promoting a spirit of coexistence and spreading a culture of knowing and accepting the other, in line with the principles of the United Nations and with what this Organization aims for through its noble programmes, which strive to bridge the gaps between peoples and to advance the preventive diplomacy that can ultimately help to eradicate the causes of conflicts. Two days ago, the Secretary-General convened the Climate Action Summit here at the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I will follow up the creation of the Academy with keen attention, because I believe that true peace is established not on paper but between human beings, and because I also have faith in Lebanon’s role and vocation as a land of convergence and dialogue, and in the experiences and expertise of its people and its pluralistic society, which have enabled them to reject intellectual and religious extremism and live in tolerance and acceptance of others.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“At the outset, I am pleased to be able to congratulate the President on his election to preside over the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session, and I wish him every success in his work. I would also like to thank Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces for her excellent leadership of the work of the Assembly at its previous session. On 16 September, the General Assembly voted to adopt resolution 73/344, on the establishment of the Academy for Human Encounters and Dialogue in Lebanon (see A/73/PV.107). In that context, on behalf of my country I would like to thank all the Member States that sponsored the resolution and voted in favour of it, encouraging us to move forward with this initiative, which I launched before the Assembly two years ago (see A/72/PV.11).”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We hope that this initiative will materialize and become a multilateral convention to establish such a centre in Lebanon that would be an international project for ongoing dialogue and harmonious coexistence, in line with the purposes of the United Nations, including preventive diplomacy to avoid conflicts. Humans are the enemy of whatever and whoever they do not know. Our salvation lies in dialogue and in coming together, rejecting violence and achieving justice. That is the only path that can lead our societies to stability, security and sustainable development.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We need international cultural institutions that specialize in spreading the culture of dialogue and peace. Lebanon is a pluralistic society in which Christians and Muslims live side by side and share governance and management. We also have a Lebanese diaspora spread throughout the world that shares common ground with many civilizations and cultures, making Lebanon an exemplary country in which to establish a human academy for encounter and dialogue to disseminate those values. Last year, from this rostrum, I launched an initiative to turn Lebanon into an international centre for dialogue among religions, cultures and races.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Our world today is suffering a crisis of extremism and fanaticism that manifests itself in the rejection of others who are different and of their culture, religion, ethnicity and civilization — in essence, the rejection of their very existence. This crisis is likely to deteriorate. No country is safe from this crisis and its destructive effects on societies and States, because it will implode them from within. The United Nations — and before it, the League of Nations — has been unable to prevent wars, maintain peace or achieve justice, especially in our region. One of the main reasons for that is because there is no international culture of peace based on mutual understanding and coexistence. There is therefore an urgent need for dialogue among religions, cultures and races.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Let us imagine for a moment that a similar international decision was taken that stripped us of our land and identity, and that while we were trying to hold on to them we were attacked from all sides in an effort to make us surrender. That is the situation today of the Palestinian people, who are dispersed throughout the world. Would we accept that situation for ourselves and our people? Would the international conscience accept that? Is that what is stipulated in international charters and conventions? What guarantees that small nations, such as the Lebanese people, will not face the same fate? Furthermore, Israeli violations of resolution 1701 (2006), which now exceed 100 a month, continue by land, sea and air, despite the fact that Lebanon remains fully committed to its implementation.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Furthermore, a decision was taken to withhold financial assistance to the United Nations Agency for the Relief and Work of the Refugees of Palestine in the Near East (UNRWA), which is mandated with assisting and protecting Palestinians pending a solution to their suffering. Has their suffering ended, thereby triggering an end to the role played by UNRWA? Is the objective to strip them of their status as refugees and to integrate them into their host countries in order to eliminate the Palestinian identity and force them to be naturalized? The Palestinians are a people who found themselves without an identity or a country overnight, owing to a decision taken by those who were supposed to defend weak countries.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The Palestinian question is the best example of that, as the absence of justice in addressing it has led to many wars in the Middle East and inspired a resistance that will end only once injustice is eliminated and rights are realized. The international community recently voted in the Security Council and the General Assembly against the declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Despite the results of the voting, which reflected the will of the international community, some embassies have been moved to Jerusalem. A law on the nature of Israel as a Jewish nation State was also adopted. That unjust law rejects other people and expressly undermines all peace efforts and the two-State solution.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Their return should not be connected to any political settlement, as no one knows when that will be reached. We refuse and reject any nationalization project for the displaced persons or refugees. In that context, we welcome any initiative that seeks to resolve the displacement issue, such as the Russian initiative. History has taught us that injustice leads to war, and that the absence of justice and the application of double standards fuel resentment, which causes extremism, violence and terrorism. Unfortunately, the international political approaches to the Middle East region still lack justice and apply double standards.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“It shows an increase in the number of registered Syrian displaced persons from 25,000 in 2012 to more than 1 million in 2014 — just two years — and shows their distribution on Lebanese territory. The map illustrates what I am trying to explain to the Assembly. In that connection, I note that the United Nations stopped counting displaced Syrians in 2014. The Lebanese General Security Directorate, however, has continued to keep track of those statistics, which show that the number of displaced Syrians in Lebanon increased to more than 1.5 million. I should therefore like to reaffirm my country’s position in favour of strengthening the right to a dignified, safe and sustainable return of displaced Syrians to their country without delay.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That is compounded by our limited resources and a paucity of international assistance for Lebanon, which makes it impossible for us to continue to shoulder this burden, especially now that most Syrian territory is safe. That is why I called for a safe return when I addressed the Assembly from this very rostrum last year (see A/72/PV.11). At that time, I distinguished between a safe return and a voluntary return. Except for a few, the Syrians who have taken refuge in Lebanon are not political refugees; the majority came to Lebanon owing to the security situation in their country or for economic reasons. I have with me a map that was issued in 2014 by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Nevertheless, we are still facing the consequences of events in Syria. Since the beginning of the war in that country, an influx of people have taken refuge in Lebanon in order to avoid the hell of war there. We are trying to provide a decent life for those displaced people. However, their numbers are increasing and they are affecting local Lebanese communities, as reflected, in terms of security, in an increase in the crime rate of more than 30 per cent; in terms of the economy, in a rise in unemployment to 21 per cent; and in terms of demography, in an increase in the population density from 400 to 600 people per square kilometre.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“At the security level, we have managed to improve our security and stability after having eradicated terrorist groups in the eastern and northern rural areas and dismantled their sleeper cells. In terms of politics, Lebanon held parliamentary elections in accordance with a law of proportionality for the first time. That has led to a fairer representation of all components of Lebanese society. Today, we are in the process of forming a cabinet that is reflective of the election results. In terms of the economy, we have established guidelines for an economic recovery plan that takes into consideration the outcomes of the Economic Conference for Development through Reforms with the Private Sector in order to activate the production sectors, update the infrastructure and bridge the gap between income and expenditure in our budget.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The Lebanese Parliament has adopted a law establishing a national committee on human rights, which includes the formation of a committee to investigate allegations of torture and mistreatment. In that context, we are completing a national action plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), which calls on Member States to put in place action plans to empower women to take part in decision-making, negotiation processes and in efforts to address conflicts. The Lebanese action plan guarantees the participation of women in the decision-making process at all levels, and activates their role in preventing conflicts, while enacting laws to prevent discrimination against women and protect them from violence and exploitation. In Lebanon, we are trying to mitigate the effects of consecutive conflicts around us.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“It must also work in a more transparent, democratic and balanced way. Furthermore, it is important for the General Assembly to more closely reflect the actual orientation of the international community. The United Nations is also called on to enhance human rights around the world. Lebanon, which contributed significantly to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is committed to the Declaration in the preamble of its Constitution. We underscore the freedom of the individual in society, and stress that any violation of human rights in any country could lead to conflicts in the future. In that regard, we would like to state that Lebanon is steadily moving forward in promoting human rights at both the legislative and the executive levels.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“General Assembly resolution 181 (II), of 1947, concerning the partition of Palestine, was seen as being of a binding nature although it was not, and it was implemented instantly. Meanwhile, resolution 194 (III), of 1948, which provided for the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland as soon as possible, remains unimplemented 70 years after its adoption. Evidently, the right of veto exists for many reasons; however, its use has had a negative impact on many States and peoples, especially in our region, and denied them their legitimate rights. Consequently, if the United Nations is to be a global leaders that is relevant to all people, it must be reformed in a way that takes into consideration the expansion of the Security Council and an increase in the number of its members.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“According to its purposes and founding principles, the United Nations must be the global conscience that preserves balance, prevents aggression, achieves justice and protects peace. However, we have seen that on many occasions the Security Council has been unable to adopt just and sometimes decisive resolutions pertaining to certain peoples, due to the right of veto. Some States refuse to implement resolutions that they deem to be inappropriate, and do so with impunity, even if those resolutions are binding and of immediate effect. I will cite some examples related to the suffering of our region. Security Council resolution 425 (1978), which called on Israel to immediately withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territories, was implemented only after 22 years, and that was due to the resistance of the Lebanese people.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“At the outset, I would like to congratulate the President of the General Assembly at its seventy-third session on her election and wish her success in her tasks. I also thank His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajčák for his efforts during the previous session and commend Secretary-General António Guterres for his efforts, especially his reform project at the helm of our international Organization. The theme that the President has suggested for this session, “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies”, is commendable because it demonstrates that the United Nations understands that its present reality requires a serious improvement in its future role.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That is the basic effort that the United Nations must undertake — to intellectually fight terrorism, which has no geographic borders. It is an intellectual infection, transmitted electronically around the world. For all of those reasons, I propose Lebanon’s candidacy as a permanent centre, independent of the United Nations, for dialogue among different civilizations, religions and races. We hope that Member States will support Lebanon when that proposal is submitted so that we can work together to secure the aspirations of the United Nations as an institution and as nations seeking peace and a decent life for all people in a world of security and stability.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“That has become crucial, since only a new culture of peace and forgiveness that teaches the principles of living together — also known as coexistence, in which people respect freedom of conscience and the right to hold differing opinions — can confront terrorism and create societies capable of establishing peace among people and nations; a culture that brings people together and contributes to strengthening relations among different societies; a culture that assists in adopting the language of dialogue as a means of conflict resolution. The role and mission of Lebanon is to wage war against the ideology of terrorism. Lebanon, in its pluralistic society, is the antithesis of the unilateralism represented by Da’esh and its peers.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“As for the division of States into sectarian and ethnic groups, it is definitely not the solution and will never prevent wars. On the contrary, that approach can serve only to increase fanaticism, extremism and conflict. The solution will come only through intellectual and cultural change. Hence the urgent need for an institution dedicated to providing peace education.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)
“After the end of the First World War, the League of Nations was established to maintain world peace. However, it failed and the Second World War broke out only two decades later. At the end of that war, the United Nations was established with the main objective of peacefully resolving disputes among countries and preventing future wars. But has it been successful in achieving that goal? The answer to that question is not difficult. The explosive world around us is the answer. World War Three has assumed a new form. It is no longer a war among nations, but rather a devastating internal war. Many countries have exploded for religious and ethnic reasons related to extremism and the rejection of others’ rights to exist.”
2017-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 72 (2017)