Beirut: President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, expressed his approval of the recently announced American-French-Saudi agreement to convene an international conference aimed at supporting the Lebanese army and internal security forces. This announcement was made in Paris and represents a move that President Aoun deeply appreciates, as it aligns with Lebanon's need for international community support to bolster its security and defense frameworks.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, President Aoun emphasized that the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces are pivotal to maintaining Lebanon's security, stability, and sovereignty. He underscored the significance of investing in these institutions to ensure Lebanon's stability and future, highlighting the importance of extending sovereignty across all territories and safeguarding borders.
President Aoun also commended the leadership roles of the United States, France, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this initiative. He expressed his anticipation for extensive international cooperation at the upcoming conference to secure the necessary backing for modernizing the Lebanese army and security services, thereby enhancing their preparedness.
The President affirmed Lebanon's commitment to managing this support with transparency and responsibility. He stressed the goal of building robust and modern security and defense institutions capable of safeguarding Lebanon and contributing to the establishment of security and stability.
In addition to this development, President Aoun chaired a ministerial-judicial meeting focused on Lebanese-Syrian discussions concerning the conditions of Syrian prisoners in Lebanon. This meeting included key judicial figures such as Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tarek Mitri and Minister of Justice Attorney Adel Nassar, among others.
President Aoun also met with Catholicos Aram I Keshishian of the Armenian Orthodox Church to discuss the general situation and the conditions of the Armenian community in Lebanon. The meeting was attended by Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Noura Bayrakdarian.
Furthermore, President Aoun received updates on the cooperation between Lebanon's Ministry of Youth and Sports and the International Centre for Sport Security in Qatar. Mahmoud Hanzab briefed him on plans for an international conference titled 'Sports, Development and Peace,' set to be hosted in Lebanon in spring 2026, along with discussions on other sports projects involving cooperation between the two nations.