Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Monday in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and called for advancing implementation of the trilateral framework between the parties, including setting a timeline for full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and consolidating weapons in the state’s hands only, according to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.
2+The meeting took place at the State Department headquarters with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji and other senior American and Lebanese officials in attendance. According to the Lebanese prime minister’s office, the parties discussed developments in Lebanon and the region and steps that Beirut says are needed to restore the state’s full sovereignty.
According to the report, Salam emphasized in the meeting that there must be a move to practical implementation of the “trilateral framework,” with gradual and mutual advancement of commitments. He said the move should lead to full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, alongside deployment of state authority across all its territory and consolidation of weapons in its hands.
2+Additionally, according to the report, the Lebanese prime minister requested setting a clear timeline for implementing commitments and establishing a monitoring mechanism to examine their implementation. He said the goal is to prevent a situation where one side’s failure to meet commitments serves as grounds for halting the entire process.
The report also said Salam added that the framework doesn’t only deal with security arrangements, but also with rehabilitating areas damaged during the fighting, infrastructure, and returning residents to their homes. He also requested continued American support for the Lebanese army and strengthening its ability to deploy state authority throughout the country.
2+The report claimed Rubio expressed the United States’ commitment to continued support for Lebanon and its official institutions, including the Lebanese army, and called for continuing implementation of the framework designed to advance stability and security.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing discussions regarding the future of arrangements in southern Lebanon, negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, and the continued activity of UNIFIL forces in the area.