Beirut: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for as long as necessary to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and complete the deployment of the Lebanese Army along the international border.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, in a meeting at Baabda Palace with UNIFIL Force Commander General Diodato Abagnara and his political advisor Herv© Lecoq, President Aoun noted Lebanon's diplomatic engagements with UN Security Council member states, friendly nations, and brotherly countries to secure the mission's renewal. He emphasized Lebanon's need for UNIFIL to maintain stability in the South and support the redeployment of the Lebanese Army, which plans to increase its troop presence to 10,000.
President Aoun warned against imposing a timeline on UNIFIL's mandate, suggesting it could negatively impact security in the South, where Israeli occupation persists. He praised the coordination between the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL, highlighting the peacekeepers' strong relationship with local communities and their ongoing health, educational, and social support efforts.
After meeting with the President, MP Sajih Attieh, Chair of the Public Works and Transport Committee, described the session as 'productive, effective, and filled with optimism.' He praised President Aoun's national approach to major issues, including the situation in South Lebanon and recent U.S. proposals. Attieh conveyed the President's confidence in the Army's readiness to address threats and emphasized its international relationships as a safeguard for Lebanon. Discussions also included national development, economic reforms, and anti-corruption measures.
MP Adeeb Abdel Massih also met with President Aoun, expressing support for the President's national positions, particularly regarding exclusive state control over arms and recent Cabinet decisions. Their discussion addressed regional development for Koura, financial and administrative reform, and progress on the 'financial gap law.' Abdel Massih praised recent judicial and security appointments and urged the completion of pending civil service appointments.
In a farewell visit marking the end of his diplomatic tenure and coinciding with the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Uruguay, Ambassador Carlos Guito met with President Aoun. The President thanked the ambassador for strengthening bilateral ties and received a historic photograph commemorating the launch of diplomatic relations.
President Aoun also welcomed a delegation from the Saadeh Foundation for Culture, led by Dr. Milad Al-Sabaali. Dr. Sabaali discussed the foundation's mission to promote intellectual, cultural, and scientific advancement and proposed forming a 'High Council for Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence' chaired by the President. President Aoun supported the proposal, underscoring the importance of digital transformation and e-government initiatives. He stressed the need for national dialogue and leveraging technology to rebuild and modernize the country.