On Friday 9 January, the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the efforts underway in Lebanon to disarm non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah.
“We are committed to Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is no space for armed militias. They undermine the country’s security and stability”, said Mr Costa at a meeting in Beirut with the Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun. He praised the President’s leadership in efforts to establish a state monopoly on gun ownership. “This is a critical step toward ensuring Lebanon’s full control over its territory”, explained Mr Costa.
Mr Costa and Ms von der Leyen both welcomed the Lebanese army’s announcement the previous day that it had completed the disarmament of Hezbollah in the southern part of the country, on the Israeli border - the first phase of the plan to disarm the group. “It is paramount to ensure that Hezbollah is fully disarmed”, added the President of the European Commission.
She pointed out that the EU was providing support to the Lebanese Armed Forces - notably through the ‘European Peace Facility’ - and to the internal security forces, and said that the EU was ready to further strengthen its cooperation. The EU Member States are currently discussing the possibility of a civilian CSDP mission to support civil security forces and/or assist with border management, or a training mission for the armed forces (see EUROPE 13772/19).
“It is crucial that the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is fully respected by all parties”, added Ms von der Leyen.
The President of the European Council welcomed the participation of Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives in a meeting earlier in the week on the ceasefire monitoring mechanism. “This is a significant step forward. Permanent stability in the region cannot be achieved through military means alone”, explained Mr Costa. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)