Additional Meetings for Peace in New York... Here Are the Details

Prime Minister Najib Mikati held a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, attended by Lebanon's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ahmad Arefa and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration and Affairs of Egyptians Abroad Dr. Bader Abdel-Aati.

Madbouli emphasized the steadfast Egyptian position in support of Lebanon, underscoring Egypt’s commitment to backing the Lebanese state and its national institutions, in order to safeguard Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, stability, and territorial integrity. He also affirmed Egypt’s support for the process of establishing state authority across all Lebanese territory and enabling its institutions to fulfill their responsibilities, particularly the Lebanese Army.

On his part, Prime Minister Mikati thanked Egypt for its continuous support of Lebanon and its state institutions, commending Egypt’s role in supporting Lebanon and contributing to efforts aimed at de-escalation and enhancing stability in the region.

The discussion covered conditions in southern Lebanon and requirements for stabilizing the situation, especially Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese territory, ending its attacks, completing the process of concentrating arms under state control and asserting state authority over all its territory through its own means, as well as continuing work through the trilateral framework to resolve outstanding issues via negotiation, supporting the return and recovery process and stabilizing the return of residents to their towns and villages.

The meeting also addressed regional developments and the importance of intensifying efforts to reduce tensions and prevent further confrontations, while strengthening security and stability and creating conditions conducive to diplomatic solutions.

Discussions also included the economic situations in Lebanon, Egypt, and the region, and challenges posed by regional developments on the economies of neighboring countries, along with ways to enhance economic and trade relations and expand cooperation areas between Lebanon and Egypt, serving the shared interests of both nations and their peoples.

Meanwhile, Mikati held a meeting with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Youssef Rjei and UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashmi.

Prime Minister Mikati thanked the UAE for its ongoing support of Lebanon, particularly its interest in boosting investments and trade exchanges between the two countries, affirming the "importance of expanding economic and investment cooperation between Lebanon and the UAE".

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed affirmed during the meeting that the UAE is committed to strengthening cooperation with Lebanon, "and supporting all efforts to lay the foundations for sustainable security and stability, and achieving the Lebanese people’s aspirations for development and prosperity".

The meeting also discussed regional conditions and efforts to reduce tensions.

During the meeting, the launch of the initiative "One Million Lebanese Experts in Artificial Intelligence" was announced, as part of the UAE Government Knowledge Exchange Program, in collaboration with the Lebanese government—a move reflecting the depth of partnership between the two countries and their commitment to expanding knowledge and expertise exchange in governmental and technical fields.

The initiative aims to build digital capabilities and empower one million Lebanese individuals with foundational and practical skills in generative artificial intelligence and prompt engineering, including crafting instructions and directing AI tools to achieve accurate and effective results, enhancing their ability to effectively use these tools in daily work and life.

Prompt engineering is one of the key skills that enables individuals and organizations to interact efficiently with AI applications, leverage them to improve work methods and public services, complete tasks, increase productivity, and develop innovative ideas and solutions to challenges.

The initiative is part of the UAE Government Knowledge Exchange Program’s broader efforts to transfer UAE expertise and experiences and establish practical partnerships that support institutional and human capacity development in partner governments.

The initiative stands out for its inclusivity, targeting all segments of Lebanese society and offering everyone—regardless of age, experience, or role—the opportunity to acquire practical skills in artificial intelligence and prompt engineering, thereby enhancing societal readiness to keep pace with digital transformation and harness AI as a supportive tool for development and innovation.

Prime Minister Mikati welcomed the initiative, commending the UAE’s support for developing human and digital capacities in Lebanon, and reaffirming the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in technology, artificial intelligence, public service development, and investing in future-oriented skills.

On another front, President Mikati held a meeting with several senior United Nations officials responsible for humanitarian response: Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration Amy Pope, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Philippe Lazzarini, Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme Carl Skau, and Acting Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Christian Saunders, at the UN headquarters in New York, attended by Minister Rjei and Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ahmad Arefa.

Prime Minister Mikati thanked the UN officials for the support provided by their agencies to Lebanon during the 2026 crisis, and for their close cooperation with the Lebanese government in responding to the needs of displaced persons and affected populations, particularly in southern Lebanon and areas subjected to attacks, in sectors such as food, shelter, protection, cash assistance, and essential services, as well as monitoring displacement movements and identifying needs.

He stressed the "importance of securing additional funding necessary for humanitarian response in Lebanon, given the ongoing humanitarian needs, particularly in the south," emphasizing the "necessity of continuing support for those who have not yet returned, alongside increasing assistance for those who have returned and for residents who remained in affected areas".

He affirmed that "the next phase requires a gradual transition from relief to recovery, without separating the two paths, so that ongoing humanitarian response is aligned with supporting the return and recovery process in the south, strengthening local communities’ resilience, under a state-led approach coordinated with international partners".

Discussions also focused on the United Nations’ role in southern Lebanon following the end of UNIFIL’s mandate, with President Mikati stressing the "importance of maintaining an international presence under the UN umbrella to prevent any vacuum, ensure continuity of monitoring, reporting, and communication, and contribute to supporting stability, facilitating the return of residents, and advancing the process of establishing full state authority across Lebanese territory".