Lebanon’s Counter-Terrorism Project Takes Stock

The Prime Minister's office in Beirut, Lebanon, hosted a meeting in the framework of the European project Act for Lebanon to showcase and take stock of achievements over the past year.

These achievements include the finalisation of a National Counter-Terrorism Strategy; the creation of a critical infrastructure catalogue; a coordination system for intelligence agencies; the future creation of the National Cyber Incident and Response Team (CSIRT); a centre of excellence in cybersecurity; and the second annual report of the National Human Rights Commission, among others.

Both the words of the Secretary General of the High Defence Council and those of the Secretary General of the Government at the Lebanese Council of Ministers were words of thanks and recognition to the European project and its members, for the momentum achieved in the country to successfully deal with the investigations and prosecution of terrorism cases and cybersecurity incidents.

The project director, Koussay Boulaich, took stock of all the progress and achievements made, in a complex regional political and security context, highlighting the need for continued commitment from the authorities for the successful completion of the project.

For his part, Jesús Arias, Chief Inspector of the Spanish National Police, who was on the ground, confirmed the importance of adopting the Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and of continuing to work with the Lebanese authorities to create a catalogue of critical infrastructures and a mechanism to improve the coordination of security forces.

The cybersecurity expert, Vincent Desroches, from CIVIPOL, France, emphasised the importance of implementing cybersecurity reforms in order to face threats in the digital environment. Finally, human rights expert Carine el Hage highlighted the importance of continuing to collaborate in the promotion of human rights with government and civil society.

The debate was enriched by the contributions of all the Lebanese authorities present, who showed full support for the actions undertaken. On the part of the consortium, the Deputy Director of Security, Peace and Development, showed the commitment of the FIIAPP in the implementation of the strategic reforms supported by the government; along with the words of the Deputy Ambassador of Spain, Hermógenes López; the CNP Inspector Elena Hernando; the CNP Inspector Alberto Sánchez Aguado; the Interior Attaché of the French Embassy, Eric Occhini and the representative of Carabineri, Alessandro Loddo.