Caretaker National Defense Minister, Yaacoub Sarraf, visited on Tuesday the southern sector of the Litani at the Benoit Barakat barracks where he was received by the Commander of the Sector, Brig. Gen. Robert Al-Alam, and a number of senior officers.
Sarraf praised the "efforts of the leadership of the sector to maintain security in the region," and welcomed "the coordination between them and the UNIFIL force; a coordination that resulted in calm and stability in the region."
Sarraf then inspected the port of Naqoura before he headed to the UNIFIL headquarters in said area, where he was welcomed by UNIFIL Commander General Stefano Del Col.
Upon his arrival, the minister placed a wreath on the memorial of the martyrs.
A meeting was held between the two sides, which included a presentation of the UNIFIL's tasks and the mechanism of reporting on violations and incidents and an explanation of the work of the naval force, as well as a briefing on the joint training projects to assist Lebanon in the development of its naval forces.
Sarraf stressed that "Lebanon is committed to every inch of its territory and the right to defend its land, sovereignty and wealth, and has no intention of attacking anyone."
He underlined "commitment to international resolutions, especially 1701," stressing that "the Israeli enemy is constantly violating these resolutions."
Commanding "coordination between the Lebanese Army and the UNIFIL," Sarraf wished Del Col "success in his duties and further cooperation."
On a different note, the Minister of Defense received at his office in the ministry, Ambassador of Finland Tarja Fernandez, and stressed to her "Lebanon's commitment to Resolution 1701 and the policy of dissociation, in addition to its openness to dialogue and settlement."
He then spoke about the repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis, stressing that "Lebanon cannot bear this burden," calling for "a radical solution to this crisis."
Discussions also touched on the issue of the cessation of UNRWA funding and the negative impact on the education of Palestinian refugees.
During the meeting, Sarraf praised the performance of the Finnish unit operating within UNIFIL.
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