Minister of Defense Michel Menassa received at his Yarzeh office, the new commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Italian General Diodato Abagnara, who came on an acquaintance visit, following his appointment as UNIFIL commander succeeding Spanish General Aroldo Lazaro.
General Abagnara stressed, "UNIFIL's commitment to continuing to carry out its mission in southern Lebanon, in coordination with the Lebanese Army."
For his part, Minister Menassa welcomed his guest and congratulated him on assuming UNIFIL's command, affirming "Lebanon's full commitment to UN Resolution 1701," and stressing "the need to intensify international pressure on the Israeli enemy to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon, to enable the Lebanese Army to complete its deployment across all Lebanese territories in the south."
Menassa and General Abagnara stressed the "necessity of extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon next August without any modification to its mission."
The Minister of Defense also met with Director of the North Africa and Middle East Department at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Romaric Runyan, and French Ambassador to Lebanon Herve Magro.
During the meeting, they discussed regional and international developments, as well as the frameworks of existing cooperation between Lebanon and France, particularly with regard to supporting the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
Runyan affirmed his country's continued efforts with the international community to extend UNIFIL's mandate next August without any modification to its mission, given its importance in supporting the Lebanese Army in ensuring security and stability in southern Lebanon.
General Abagnara stressed, "UNIFIL's commitment to continuing to carry out its mission in southern Lebanon, in coordination with the Lebanese Army."
For his part, Minister Menassa welcomed his guest and congratulated him on assuming UNIFIL's command, affirming "Lebanon's full commitment to UN Resolution 1701," and stressing "the need to intensify international pressure on the Israeli enemy to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon, to enable the Lebanese Army to complete its deployment across all Lebanese territories in the south."
Menassa and General Abagnara stressed the "necessity of extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon next August without any modification to its mission."
The Minister of Defense also met with Director of the North Africa and Middle East Department at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Romaric Runyan, and French Ambassador to Lebanon Herve Magro.
During the meeting, they discussed regional and international developments, as well as the frameworks of existing cooperation between Lebanon and France, particularly with regard to supporting the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
Runyan affirmed his country's continued efforts with the international community to extend UNIFIL's mandate next August without any modification to its mission, given its importance in supporting the Lebanese Army in ensuring security and stability in southern Lebanon.
