Beirut: Minister of National Defense, Major General Michel Menassa, on Tuesday received at his Yarzeh office, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific- Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs - Department of Peace Operations, Khaled Khiari, at the head of an accompanying delegation. The meeting addressed the general situation in Lebanon and the region, emphasizing the importance of supporting stability and strengthening the role of legitimate Lebanese institutions in maintaining security and preserving civil peace.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the discussion also touched on the existing cooperation between Lebanon and UNIFIL, particularly with regard to the implementation of international resolutions. The Minister of National Defense affirmed Lebanon's full commitment to implementing Resolution 1701 and the readiness of the Lebanese army to continue carrying out its duties in this regard.
Minister Menassa stressed that the obstacles hindering the implementation process are the continued violations by the Israeli side of the cessation of hostilities agreement, in addition to its failure to implement Resolution 1701 and its failure to withdraw from the positions it still occupies in southern Lebanon. Both sides stressed the importance of supporting the Lebanese army to enable it to carry out its national duties efficiently, while emphasizing the need to urge friendly countries to continue providing the army with the necessary support in various fields.
On the other hand, the Minister of Defense received the President of the Military Court, Brigadier General Wassim Fayyad, who congratulated him on Lebanon's Independence Day. The pair reportedly discussed matters related to the work of the Military Court and the coordination within the approved legal frameworks.