During a meeting with eminent religious leaders on Monday, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Dar el-Fatwa is committed to international legitimacy and that it confirms Lebanon’s eagerness to implement international resolutions, particularly those issued by the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Derian, on the other hand, expressed sorrow that the UN Security Council did not take up its mandate to monitor the implementation of its decisions, and that as a result, Palestinians continue to suffer while Israel continues to develop settlements.

He added that a significant part of Lebanon’s tragedies and collapse was due to the UN failure in playing an efficient role in reaching a solution to the Palestinian issue, besides the Lebanese state’s failure to assume its responsibilities.

The meeting was attended by Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi, Sheikh Mahdi El-Yahfoufi representing Deputy Head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Sheikh Ali Al Khatib, Patriarch of Antioch for the Greek Orthodox Church Patriarch John X Yaziji, Druze Sheikh Akl Sheikh Sami Abil-Mona, and Head of the Catholicosate of the House of Cilicia of the Armenian Orthodox Church Aram I Keshishian.

A press release by the UN in Lebanon indicated that, “Participants confirmed their commitment to openness, tolerance and coexistence as the essence of Lebanon’s identity and stability.”

“They stressed the importance of safeguarding these values, which are at the core of faith, especially at this difficult time of grave financial and socioeconomic crisis that is heavily impacting the population. Participants expressed their determination to focus on what unites Lebanon and brings its people together, and they encouraged their communities to do the same and to adopt dialogue as a means of resolving differences in a spirit of consensus and togetherness,” the press release stated.

“Participants emphasized a shared desire across all religions and confessions to see Lebanon recover and prosper, and they committed to doing all they can to restore hope to its people,” it added.

“The meeting reconfirmed the support of the United Nations to Lebanon in order to halt the crisis and spare the people from further suffering,” it concluded.