“Thank you dear Minister [of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib], thank you to all of you.

I am very happy to be in Lebanon, je suis très heureux d’être au Liban, despite the dramatic circumstances which are sadly affecting the whole region, and also the Lebanese people.

Remember Minister, some weeks ago, we met together and you told me that everything that happens in the Middle East resonates in Lebanon, has consequences for Lebanon, for the better or for the worse, and you asked me to increase the political engagement and political dialogue between the European Union and Lebanon.

And that is why today I am here, after visiting Israel and Palestine.

I am here when we are seeing worrying intensification of exchange of fire across the Blue Line at the border between Lebanon and Israel. And I think that the war can be prevented, has to be avoided and diplomacy can prevail to look for a better solution.

It is imperative to avoid a regional escalation in the Middle East, it is absolutely necessary to avoid Lebanon being dragged into a regional conflict. This is the last thing Lebanon needs.

Already now more than 70,000 civilians have already been displaced in Lebanon, 200,000 in northern Israel. Almost 50,000 olive trees have been burnt in the border. Imagine, 50,000 olive trees; I am coming from a country where olive trees are very much important, so I understand how important it can be [to lose] 50,000 olive trees.

Nobody stands [to win] from a regional conflict. And I am sending this message to Israel too. Nobody will win from a regional conflict.

I am here to explore [take stock of] the situation and to contribute to a way out of the crisis.

[…]”