(VOVWORLD) - France and the US have agreed on a proposal for a 21-day temporary ceasefire in Lebanon to facilitate the search for a diplomatic solution to end the current escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday.
 A building is destroyed following an Israeli air raid in Aaqbiyeh, Lebanon, September 24, 2024. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) |
Earlier French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden discussed Lebanon on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
Barrot told emergency meeting on Lebanon held by the UN Security Council in New York that the details of the 21-day temporary ceasefire proposal will be announced as soon as possible, adding that a full-scale war can be avoided if all actors engage resolutely on a path of de-escalation.
Macron said the most important thing is that all parties comply with previous agreements on the Green Line, the temporary border between Lebanon and Israel on the Golan Heights established by the United Nations in 2000.
“France ask all parties to comply with their obligations on the Green Line. We’ll act to achieve a diplomatic solution to protect civilians and prevent the regional conflict escalation. There must be no war in Lebanon,” said Macron.
After the French-American ceasefire proposal was announced, Australia, Canada, Japan, Germany, the UAE, Qatar, and the European Union indicated their support for the proposal.
In a joint statement issued late Wednesday, these countries and organizations said it’s time to reach a long-term agreement to resolve the Israel-Lebanon border issue to ensure security for both sides and allow people on both sides of the border to return home.