Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raggi met separately with British Ambassador Hamish Cowell and Pakistani Ambassador Salman Athar as part of diplomatic efforts to secure the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate during the upcoming UN Security Council session later this month.

Ambassador Cowell affirmed the United Kingdom’s support for Lebanon’s position regarding the renewal and reiterated Britain’s commitment to the principle that all arms must remain under the authority of the Lebanese state.

In a subsequent meeting, Ambassador Athar, whose country currently holds a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, expressed Pakistan’s support for extending the mandate of UN forces in southern Lebanon according to the formula being pursued by the Lebanese government.