PM Salam: Full Solidarity with Qatar, No Stability Without Israeli Withdrawal

Joint press conference held by PM Salam and his Qatari counterpart

Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, on Tuesday arrived in Doha on an official visit to the State of Qatar, accompanied by a ministerial delegation that included Minister of Culture Dr. Ghassan Salamé, Minister of Energy and Water HE Joe Saddi, Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, and Minister of State for Administrative Development Fadi Makki.

The delegation was received at the Amiri Diwan by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, where an expanded meeting was held, followed by a bilateral discussion between His Highness and the Lebanese Prime Minister.

At the outset of the meeting, Salam expressed Lebanon’s full solidarity with Qatar and its firm condemnation of the recent Iranian attack on Al Udeid Air Base, describing it as a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter. Moreover, PM Salam reaffirmed Lebanon’s categorical rejection of any aggression that undermines the security and stability of Qatar and the region.

The two leaders welcomed the recent cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, emphasizing the importance of this development in restoring calm across the region, particularly in Lebanon, Palestine, and the Gulf. 

Prime Minister Salam also conveyed his deep appreciation to His Highness the Amir and to the Qatari government and people for their continued support of Lebanon, particularly in light of the challenges facing the region.

For his part, His Highness the Amir expressed gratitude for Lebanon’s solidarity and reiterated Qatar’s unwavering support for the Lebanese Republic and its people, stressing the shared aspiration for peace, development, and prosperity.

A subsequent expanded meeting was held with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, attended by several ministers from both sides. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and opening new avenues for cooperation, especially in the energy sector, through short- and medium-term implementation plans. Talks also addressed collaboration in public works and transport, administrative development, and cultural affairs.

The meeting also tackled continued Qatari support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, the need for intensified international and regional efforts to halt ongoing Israeli violations against Lebanon, and the importance of Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese occupied territories. Both sides stressed the necessity of reconstruction and reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to exercising full sovereignty across its territory, alongside advancing its national reform agenda.

On the issue of Syrian refugees, both sides discussed practical frameworks to ensure a safe and dignified return, with Qatar expressing full readiness to support and assist these efforts in coordination with the relevant authorities.

The visit comes as part of efforts to reinforce Arab cooperation and to reaffirm the depth of historical ties between Qatar and Lebanon, as well as the joint commitment to stability and development in the region.

Following the meetings, a joint press conference was held by Prime Minister Salam and his Qatari counterpart. Prime Minister Salam praised Qatar’s hospitality and leadership amid recent regional tensions, stating: “We were proud to be the first delegation to land in Doha after the aggression, and we renew our support to Qatar against any form of attack. We also thank Qatar for its continued support to Lebanon, politically, economically, and in particular, through its sustained support to the Lebanese Army and various development projects.”

Salam added: “Today’s discussions laid the groundwork for further cooperation, especially in the energy sector. We agreed to continue consultations with the aim of reaching an executive understanding regarding Qatar’s contribution to Lebanon’s energy needs, whether through the construction of a power plant or the supply of natural gas. We also hope to see renewed visits from our Qatari brothers to Lebanon this summer, and we look forward to a promising tourist season.”

The Prime Minister also briefed the Qatari leadership on Lebanon’s reform track, efforts to restructure the civil administration on the basis of transparency and merit, and legislative initiatives related to judicial independence and investment climate improvement.

Salam also stressed: “There can be no genuine stability in Lebanon without the full Israeli withdrawal from the five occupied points on Lebanese territory. As in all my prior engagements with the Qatari leadership, I renewed our request for support on this issue within the broader international community.”

On regional affairs, Prime Minister Salam reiterated Lebanon’s position: “We continue to condemn the Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran as a violation of its sovereignty and international law. We are pleased that Qatar’s mediation efforts helped end hostilities, and we hope this paves the way for a return to diplomacy. This is not only Lebanon’s position—it reflects a unified Arab stance, which Qatar also upholds.”

Prime Minister Salam concluded by extending renewed gratitude to His Highness the Amir, the Qatari government, and the people of Qatar for their unwavering support.

During the Q&A session, Salam reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to the principle of asserting state authority over all its territory through its own sovereign institutions, as stipulated in the Taif Agreement and the government’s ministerial statement.

He confirmed Lebanon’s continued diplomatic efforts to rally Arab and international support to compel Israel to respect the ceasefire agreement signed in November and to withdraw from all Lebanese territories still under occupation.

In response to a question regarding Hezbollah’s involvement in regional conflicts, Prime Minister Salam noted:

“In the past two weeks, we have collectively succeeded in preventing Lebanon from being drawn into a new regional war. Now, with military operations halted, we hope to usher in a new phase of diplomacy, as expressed by Qatar.”

Regarding external pressure on Israel to withdraw, Salam stressed: “Our strategy relies on mobilizing every possible political and diplomatic avenue—starting with our Arab brothers and extending to key international actors, including permanent members of the UN Security Council and the United States.”

Prime Minister Salam also renewed his invitation to his Qatari counterpart to visit Lebanon, expressing hope that such a visit would mark a turning point in regional stability.

To this, the Qatari Prime Minister replied: “The Prime Minister promised me two visits—one to Tripoli and one to the South.”

Salam responded, “That was meant to be a surprise. But yes, we are looking forward to welcoming him in Lebanon very soon.”