Army Day in Paris... Behind the Scenes of the Support Conference
MTV sources in Paris reported that French President Emmanuel Macron said the framework agreement is not being implemented as stipulated and promised to contact US President Donald Trump to discuss the situation and ask him to honor the commitments toward Lebanon. Intensive consultations will also take place to develop a vision for the post-UNIFIL phase before the end of this month.
The sources added that the Army commander outlined the Army’s role in implementing the decisions of the political authorities to extend state authority, including the decision to place weapons exclusively under state control. He stressed the need to provide the Army with the necessary capabilities to do so, as well as the need for Israel to withdraw.
The sources revealed that the preparatory conference for the Army Support Conference yielded a positive outcome and that the closed-door meeting included discussions on the post-UNIFIL phase and the French-Italian proposal. Most participants expressed concern about a potential vacuum in southern Lebanon.
The sources indicated that there was consensus on empowering the Army and security forces to extend state authority across the entire country, including the need for a full Israeli withdrawal. The Jordanian and Kuwaiti sides made some of the most notable interventions, while some participants, particularly the US and Saudi delegations, did not make interventions.
The Lebanese side distributed a detailed technical report outlining the needs and priorities of the Army and security forces without specifying financial amounts. Participants also discussed a possible date for an Army Support Conference in October, although no final date has been set yet.
The sources noted that King Abdullah II and Queen Rania joined the military meeting toward its conclusion, highlighting Jordan’s interest in the Lebanese file.
