The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Hossam Zaki, will arrive in Beirut on Monday, where he will hold official talks on the crisis with the Arab Gulf states, diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The sources said that Zaki’s meetings “will be limited to President Michel Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.”
Meanwhile, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attaches great attention to the situation in Lebanon, which he describes as “an important country in the region.”
In a radio interview, Wronecka hoped that the diplomatic crisis with the Gulf states would be resolved, pointing to the need to implement soft diplomacy that guarantees the stability of the region.
She added that the UN was ready to provide assistance if requested.
Asked about the outcome of her recent meetings with Mikati and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, the UN official said she was able to determine what the United Nations could offer to Lebanon.
She also expressed hope that the government would be able to implement its reform program, calling for avoiding political differences and adopting wisdom in dealing with matters.
Regarding negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Wronecka stressed that the Lebanese negotiating team has extensive experience, and urged the need to continue technical consultations away from political differences.
She reiterated the importance of holding a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the Beirut port explosion, because “it is not possible to move forward with the path of recovery if the investigation is not completed quickly.”
The judiciary must be given an opportunity to impose the rule of law and determine justice, she said, hoping that the political parties would separate these issues from the government work, in order to achieve tangible results.
