Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati affirmed to visitors that "diplomatic efforts were ongoing and were intensified yesterday to halt Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and secure a withdrawal from Lebanese border towns."
Mikati also emphasized that these efforts prioritized "stabilizing conditions to facilitate the return of displaced persons to their towns and villages and expanding the army’s deployment in the south."
Moreover, the PM highlighted that the army command’s recent call for recruiting combat soldiers aligned with the Cabinet's decision to bolster the army’s presence across southern Lebanon.
The Prime Minister held discussions with Caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Sleem on defense matters and met with Caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib with whom he reviewed ongoing diplomatic efforts and Bou Habib's participation in the Cairo-hosted Ministerial Conference on Strengthening Humanitarian Response in Gaza.
Mikati also hosted Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon, Stephanie McCollum, with whom he discussed bilateral ties.
Praising the seven-decade-long diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Canada, Mikati remarked, "Lebanon values Canada’s steadfast support and its embrace of Lebanese expatriates."
The PM separately met with UN Resident Coordinator, Imran Riza, with whom he discussed collaboration between the government and UN agencies in assisting Lebanon. Additional visitors included Turkey's new Chargé d’Affaires, Ambassador Murat Lütem, who paid him a protocol visit, and former minister Rashid Derbas.
Mikati received Father Tony Khadra, head of the Labora Foundation, who raised concerns about maintaining balance in state institutions. "There have been changes affecting equilibrium and standards in state appointments," Khadra warned. He also urged swift action, noting, "No component of Lebanon’s fabric should feel marginalized."
Khadra also called on Christian leaders to prioritize unity over internal disputes, thanking Mikati for assurances of immediate intervention.
“We cannot sustain the nation outside state frameworks,” he stressed, underlining the importance of restoring balance before electing a new president.
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