President Michel Aoun on Friday told visiting US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, that Hezbollah is a Lebanese party represented at Parliament and government, and stems from a popular base that denotes one of the main sects in the country.
"Maintaining national unity and civil peace is a priority for us," President Aoun told Secretary Pompeo during his meeting with him at Baabda Palace.
Aoun also asked Pompeo for his country's assistance in the return of the Syrian refugees to the safe areas in Syria, noting that Lebanon which has hosted more than one million and 500 thousand displaced Syrians on its territory, is no longer capable of bearing the repercussions of such displacement on all daily living related sectors.
Aoun stressed that the arrangements for the return of refugees will continue in accordance with the mechanism set by the Lebanese General Security.
On the other hand, Aoun welcomed the United States' assistance in the demarcation of the land border known as the "Blue Line," saying that "such an action strengthens security and stability in the south."
The head of state underlined Lebanon's commitment to the implementation of Resolution 1701 to maintain stability along the southern border despite the ongoing Israeli violations by land, air and sea.
Aoun thanked Minister Pompeo for his country's assistance to the Lebanese Army, especially during the war of liberating the Bekaa terrains from terrorist organizations.
Pompeo, for his part, affirmed his country's keenness to strengthen US-Lebanese relations and ongoing support to the Lebanese armed forces.
The US Secretary of State also stressed his country's readiness to contribute to the demarcation of land and sea borders.
He also spoke about his country's position regarding Hezbollah and Iran.
Pompeo has arrived at the Baabda palace this afternoon accompanied by US Ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard, Ambassadors David Hale and David Satterfield, and Diplomat Catherine Martin.
Attending the meeting, on the Lebanese side, had been the State Minister for Presidential Affairs, Salim Jreissati, President Aoun's Key Advisor Mireille Aoun Hachem, General Security chief, Abbas Ibrahim, Presidency Director General Antoine Choucair and several advisers.
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