Baabda: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, on Thursday conducted a series of significant meetings at Baabda Palace, focusing on military coordination, international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, and diplomatic relations.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, during a meeting with the Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), General Aroldo L¡zaro, and his delegation, President Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's dedication to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He emphasized the Lebanese Army's efforts in deploying across southern towns vacated by Israeli forces, where they are actively working to clear landmines and remove armed presence, despite the challenging landscape.
The President highlighted the critical need for Israel to withdraw from the remaining five occupied hills to ensure lasting stability and facilitate the full return of displaced residents. He also confirmed that the recruitment of 4,500 new soldiers, as mandated by a Cabinet decision, is underway to reinforce existing forces in conjunction with UNIFIL.
General L¡zaro offered Easter greetings and condolences for the recent loss of two army personnel in a demining incident. He shared insights from his recent meetings at the UN Security Council, including Lebanon's request for a renewed UNIFIL mandate, and commended the robust coordination between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army.
In another key meeting, President Aoun welcomed a delegation from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), including Head of the Peace Division Evariste Karambizi and Director of the Diplomatic Division Rabih Haddad. They briefed the President on their support initiatives, which include a £17 million package aimed at equipping and training the 4,500 new army recruits assigned to the south.
Karambizi mentioned that additional assistance is being prepared to bolster Lebanon's security institutions. President Aoun expressed gratitude for UNITAR's support and discussed recent political, security, and reform developments in the country.
Later, President Aoun met with Cypriot Maronite officials, including MP John Moussa and former Minister Georgios Lakkotrypis, who congratulated him on his election and conveyed greetings from the Cypriot Maronite community. They discussed bilateral ties and the challenges faced by Cypriot Maronites, particularly their inability to access villages in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Cyprus. The delegation requested President Aoun to address this issue with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during an upcoming visit to Turkey.
The discussions also covered prospects for enhancing cooperation between Lebanon and Cyprus, with MP Moussa conveying President Nikos Christodoulides' regards and reiterating his invitation for President Aoun to visit Cyprus.