Raji to Arab Ambassadors in Moscow: The Lebanese State is Sovereign and Direct Negotiations Aim to Protect Lebanon's Interest

Foreign Minister and Emigrants Affairs Youssef Raji continued his official visit to Russia for a second consecutive day, holding an extensive meeting with Arab ambassadors accredited in Moscow, during which he briefed them on the latest developments in Lebanon.

Raji addressed the timing of the visit, confirming that "the absence of previous visits was not due to political reasons but rather the result of successive crises experienced by Lebanon." He announced the decision to participate in the Russian-Arab Forum scheduled to be held in Moscow next December. He reaffirmed reliance on a "positive and balanced Russian role that understands Lebanon's stance regarding Iran and its rejection of any interference in its internal affairs," while also reiterating his condemnation of "repeated Iranian attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Gulf states, and Jordan."

"Based on his conviction that telling the truth is a duty regardless of how difficult it may be, and that without diagnosing the problem, no solution can be reached," as he stated, Raji explained to the Arab ambassadors the delicacy of the situation resulting from "Hezbollah dragging Lebanon into an absurd war that it did not want, for which Lebanese people have paid and continue to pay heavy prices."

He affirmed that "the Lebanese demand to live in a state where there is no weapon except that of its legitimate military forces is independent of all regional and international calculations." He stressed that "the priority of the Lebanese state is to liberate occupied territories, stop Israeli aggressions, restore the decision of war and peace, and restrict the weapons of armed organizations," clarifying that "the government chose direct negotiations after the failure of the military option."

He considered that "the importance of these negotiations lies in the fact that they established the reality that the Lebanese state is sovereign over itself, and no one negotiates on its behalf." He deemed that "the path is difficult and long, but the Lebanese government is determined, under American sponsorship and Arab support, to reach a result that serves only Lebanon's interest, not the interest of any other country, foremost among them Iran."

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Arab ambassadors thanked Minister Raji and confirmed their countries' "readiness to support Lebanon in its cause and unify positions on the eve of the Russian-Arab Forum."