Nabih Berri to "Barrot": We Insist on the Necessity of Maintaining UNIFIL!

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Delegate Minister for Armed Forces and Veterans Alice Rufo, along with their accompanying delegation, at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ayn al-Tineh. The meeting was attended by the French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrick Durel and the Speaker’s advisor Dr. Mahmoud Berri.

The discussion covered developments in Lebanon and the region, political and field updates, and Lebanon's official and popular stance insisting on the retention of UNIFIL forces, as well as Lebanese-French relations and ways to strengthen them.

Berri thanked France and its President Emmanuel Macron for their constant support and backing of Lebanon, praising the sacrifices of the French unit participating in UNIFIL, as well as the sacrifices and role of soldiers from other countries contributing to the International Emergency Force over more than 48 years, in implementation of and adherence to international legitimacy resolutions, particularly Resolutions 425 and 1701.

He affirmed that the role of these forces extends beyond the security and military role in establishing the foundations of international peace and security to include humanitarian, cultural, economic, and social roles, strengthening friendship and civilizational convergence among nations despite their different affiliations. He stressed that official Lebanon, as well as all Lebanese people, are united and insistent on the necessity of maintaining the International Emergency Force. They look forward to a French, European, international, and regional role to avoid reaching a vacuum that may result from the expiration of the mandate of the UN force operating in southern Lebanon before the full implementation of Resolution 1701, which Lebanon has committed to and continues to commit to, while Israel persists in violating it and breaching all its provisions, continuing its war against Lebanon and occupying vast areas of its south.

He clarified that national and international efforts must be unified and integrated to stop the aggression and compel Israel to implement international legitimacy resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 1701, rather than overturning it.

The meeting included a luncheon in honor of French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Delegate Minister for Armed Forces and Veterans Alice Rufo and their accompanying delegation.