Berri to Lacroix: Lebanon united in backing continued UNIFIL presence
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and an accompanying delegation at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain El-Tineh.
The meeting was attended by UNIFIL Force Commander Major General Diodato Abagnara, UN Deputy Special Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza, and Speaker Berri’s Media Advisor Ali Hamdan.
The discussion touched on the general situation in Lebanon, particularly field developments, especially in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, amid Israel’s continued war on Lebanon and its violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The discussions also addressed the implications of Resolution 2790 and Lebanon's unified position on the matter, calling for an extension of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon in a manner that serves the interests of Lebanon and the south, as well as international peace and security. Under UNIFIL's mandate and the provisions of Resolution 1701, the force is tasked with monitoring and protecting the international border along the Blue Line and addressing its demarcation, particularly with regard to disputed areas and points over which Lebanon has expressed reservations. Its responsibilities also include reporting and exposing Israel’s daily violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
During the meeting, Speaker Berri praised the efforts and sacrifices of UNIFIL forces throughout their service in southern Lebanon, noting that their role has extended beyond security and military duties to encompass humanitarian, social, cultural, and economic activities, as well as fostering coexistence between UNIFIL personnel and local communities in their areas of operations in southern Lebanon.
Berri reaffirmed the unified official Lebanese position on maintaining UNIFIL's presence and its mission in accordance with Resolution 1701, notinf that there is a consensus and a Lebanese parliamentary ongoing effort to engage with the international community and the United Nations in this regard. Berri stressed to the delegation that Lebanon will continue its efforts at all levels to safeguard its sovereign rights, protect its borders, and liberate every inch of its territory from Israeli occupation.
