Lebanese President: The army is fully fulfilling its duties, and Israeli occupation claims of negligence are unfounded

Beirut - 15 - 9 (KUNA) -- Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun affirmed on Tuesday that the Lebanese Army is fully discharging its duties in maintaining security, preventing armed displays, and assisting residents in returning to their villages, stressing that Israeli occupation claims of negligence by the Lebanese military institution are unfounded.

The Lebanese Presidency stated in a statement that President Aoun’s remarks came during his reception at Baabda Palace of Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakanen and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of Lebanese Defense Minister Major General Michel Mounse and Finnish Ambassador to Beirut Anne Maskaninen. The meeting was held within the framework of Hakanen’s visit to inspect Finnish forces serving within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and to discuss bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, Aoun emphasized that military personnel are carrying out their missions in various regions of Lebanon, including securing the eastern and northern borders, combating terrorism, and maintaining public order, “despite limited capabilities.”

He noted that the issue of supporting the Lebanese Army would be discussed at an upcoming meeting in the French capital, Paris, on Thursday, in preparation for an international conference to support the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces.

President Aoun underscored the importance of rebuilding the South to ensure the return of residents, calling on the European Union to contribute to this effort in parallel with government measures to facilitate their return.

The Lebanese President stated that he had “personally witnessed” during his visit to the South last week the extensive destruction and the direct targeting by Israeli occupation forces of civilians, children, women, relief teams, civil defense personnel, Red Cross workers, and journalists.

He explained to the Finnish minister the reasons for his adoption of direct negotiations to halt the hostile actions of Israeli occupation forces and restore stability, clarifying that the occupation forces had not adhered to the provisions of the agreed framework formula in the Washington negotiations.

President Aoun stressed that the objectives of negotiations with the occupation are its withdrawal from the South, the deployment of the Lebanese Army, the return of detainees, and the commencement of reconstruction, “leading to the end of the state of hostility.”

He expressed Lebanon’s welcome to any country wishing to maintain its forces in the South after the expiration of UNIFIL’s mandate, in addition to welcoming the French-Italian initiative to form a European force to assist the Lebanese Army after its deployment up to the international borders, in accordance with an appropriate legal formula.

The statement quoted the Finnish Defense Minister as expressing his pleasure at visiting Lebanon and highlighting the participation of approximately 17,000 Finnish officers and personnel, in succession, within UNIFIL since 1982. He affirmed his country’s supportive stance toward Lebanon and its aspiration to enhance military cooperation.

Minister Hakanen confirmed his country’s “positive” view regarding Lebanon’s requests for the period following the end of UNIFIL’s mandate at the end of the current year, and its alignment with European Union countries on decisions taken in this regard.

(End) F Z / M A A