President Aoun told UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations that Lebanon is with the extension of UNIFIL, without any mission or numbers amendment.

​Lacroix assured the President that the UN will always stand by Lebanon, and will continue its work to implement resolution 1701.

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, today at the Presidential Palace.

The President informed Lacroix that 'Lebanon desires to extend the mandate of international forces operating in Southern Lebanon, without any modifications in number and missions, because of the benefit in maintaining security and stability in the South'. President Aoun also expressed his satisfaction for the adoption of the UNIFIL budget on June 30, and noted that 'Despite tensions surrounding the region, southern borders have been enjoying stability since the July 2006 war'.

In addition, President Aoun praised the existing cooperation between the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces, reiterating his condemnation for Israeli air violations, especially recent ones, through raids launched by Israeli air forces against Syrian territories.

Moreover, the President considered that the UNFIL mission in Lebanon is one of the exemplary and successful missions at the level of peacekeeping operations in the world, and reiterated Lebanese commitment to implement UN Resolution 1701 in all aspects, calling on the UN to compel Israel to abide by the Resolution.

For his part, Lacroix conveyed the greetings of UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and his assurance that the UN will always stand by Lebanon. Lacroix also conveyed that the work of UNIFIL will continue to implement resolution 1701, noting the existing cooperation between the Lebanese Army and international forces.

UNIFIL Commander in Lebanon, General Stefano Del Col, and UN Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Ms. Joanna Ronesca, attended the meeting.

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