Second Quintet Meeting on Lebanon in Doha calls for immediate action

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar participated in the Second Quintet Meeting on Lebanon, hosted in Doha yesterday, with the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United States, and the French Republic.

Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi represented the State of Qatar during the meeting. In his speech before the meeting, he stressed that this meeting is held to find mechanisms to assist Lebanon in overcoming the state of political stalemate and in facing its economic crisis, based on the humanitarian duty and the awareness of the importance of Lebanon in its Arab and international environment. In this context, he stressed that solutions can only be in the hands of the Lebanese in a manner that meets the aspirations of the people of Lebanon on the path of development and progress.

The Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that developing an inclusive vision for reviving the economic situation in Lebanon is an urgent matter, expressing his hope to continue working and follow up on the efforts made at the first meeting in Paris, and to find additional solutions and mechanisms that enable Lebanon and its people to survive these crises while preserving its sovereignty and independence.

He stressed the State of Qatar’s stance to stand by Lebanon and its people and support international efforts that lead to its unity and stability.

The representatives from Egypt, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United States met yesterday to discuss the urgent need for Lebanons leadership to expedite presidential elections and implement imperative economic reforms in order to fulfill their responsibilities to their citizens, said Joint Statement from Second Quintet Meeting on Lebanon.

Rescuing the economy and securing a more prosperous future for the Lebanese people rests on their actions.

“While our five countries underscored our commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, we noted with concern that nearly nine months after the end of President Michel Aouns term, Lebanon’s political leaders have yet to elect a successor.

“It is crucial for Lebanese Members of Parliament to abide by their constitutional responsibility and proceed with the election of a president. We discussed concrete options with respect to implementing measures against those who are blocking progress on this front,” said the statement.

It adds that in order to meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people and address their pressing needs, it is imperative that Lebanon elects a president who embodies integrity, unites the nation, puts the interests of the country first, prioritizes the well-being of its citizens, and forms a broad and inclusive coalition to implement essential economic reforms, particularly those recommended by the International Monetary Fund.

“Our countries are willing to work jointly with Lebanon to support the implementation of these reform measures, which are invaluable to the country's future prosperity, stability, and security.” “We underscore the desperate need for judicial reform and implementation of the rule of law, especially in regard to the 2020 Port of Beirut explosion investigation. We strongly urge Lebanese leaders and parties to take immediate action to overcome the current political impasse,” the statement said.

“We emphasize the importance of the Lebanese governments implementation of the related UN Security Council Resolutions, as well as other relevant international agreements and resolutions, including those issued by the Arab League, and its commitment to the National Accord Agreement, which enables the preservation of national unity and civil justice in Lebanon.” 

Egypt, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United States remain steadfast in their support for Lebanon and look forward to continued coordination in the interest of its people.