Lebanese premier hold talks with Syrian, Emirati, Russian officials in New York

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discussed relations, regional developments and the period following the end of the UN peacekeeping mission in separate meetings with officials from Syria, Russia and the United Arab Emirates in New York, according to a statement Thursday.

The Lebanese Prime Minister’s Office said the meetings were held Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.

SYRIA

Salam met President Ahmad al-Sharaa in the presence of Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, according to the office.

“Lebanon has been working to open a new page with our Syrian brothers and build relations between the two countries based on trust, non-interference in internal affairs and mutual interests,” Salam said in televised remarks after the meeting.

“The two sides discussed the need to complete a review of agreements signed between the countries to lay the groundwork for the first meeting of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Joint Committee established in Beirut,” he added.

Salam said the aim was to ensure the step does not remain “ink on paper,” noting that the committee’s first meeting could take place “at the beginning of next month or the following month.”

They also discussed the importance of strengthening regional connectivity projects, particularly in electricity, railways and energy, given their shared importance to Lebanon and Syria.

Lebanon and Syria have held talks since August to develop transportation and logistics services and expand trade between the two countries.

RUSSIA

Salam discussed relations and ways to strengthen them, as well as developments in Lebanon and the region, during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which Rajji also attended.

“The importance of maintaining an international presence in the south after the end of UNIFIL’s (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) mission to help preserve stability, ensure the continuation of monitoring, reporting and communication duties, and support efforts to extend Lebanese state authority across the country’s entire territory, Salam stressed.

UNIFIL’s mandate was extended for the final time until Dec. 31, 2026 under UN Security Council Resolution 2790, adopted in August 2025.

The force will then begin a gradual, orderly and safe withdrawal lasting one year, with the Lebanese government becoming the sole provider of security in southern Lebanon.

UAE

Salam discussed ways to “strengthen” Lebanese-Emirati cooperation in digital transformation and the development of government services during his meeting with the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy.

Lebanon’s permanent representative to the UN, Ahmad Arafa, attended the meeting.

The talks addressed ways Lebanon could benefit from the UAE’s experience in digitizing transactions and simplifying procedures to reduce processing times and improve services for citizens.

Al Hashimy expressed the UAE’s readiness to support Lebanon and share expertise in the field.

‘A NEW LEBANON’

“Lebanon’s presence at the UN was intended to emphasize that a new Lebanon is being built through two parallel tracks: internal reform and the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty,” said Salam, commenting on his visit to New York.

“A key issue concerning the UN is the period following the end of UNIFIL’s mission in the south,” he said.

“We need a continued international presence in the south to carry out monitoring, reporting and communication tasks, and we do not want any vacuum after the end of UNIFIL’s mission,” he said.

Lebanon is preparing for the next phase and working to find an appropriate formula for such an international presence, he added.

Salam said ideas under discussion include forming a European, French, Italian or other force, but stressed that Lebanon’s position is that “any international force in the south must operate under the umbrella of a UN Security Council resolution.”

The meetings come as Lebanon faces a sensitive security and political period involving efforts to strengthen the army’s capabilities, the future of the international military presence in the south, Israel’s continued presence in parts of Lebanese territory and disagreements about Hezbollah’s weapons, as well as international efforts to prepare for the period following the end of UNIFIL’s mandate.