BEIRUT, January 2 (Xinhua) — French Defense Minister Sebastien LeCourneaux announced today (Monday) that his country will strengthen military cooperation with Lebanon and raise the capacity of the Lebanese army.
In statements during a meeting with Lebanese Defense Minister Maurice Slim, Locorno affirmed the continuation of support for Lebanon, pointing to the interest that French President Emmanuel Macron attaches to the situation in Lebanon, according to the official Lebanese National News Agency.
The French minister focused on the importance of electing a President of the Republic.
The disagreements of the political forces in Lebanon prevented the election of a new president for the country to succeed former President Michel Aoun, whose term ended on October 31, despite the parliament holding 10 sessions for this purpose between the end of last September and the 15th of this December.
“I have a mandate from President Macron to formulate a military cooperation program between the two countries for the next stage, and how to develop it in a way that increases the capabilities of the Lebanese army, especially in the field of raising the capacity of the Lebanese Navy,” Locorno said.
He touched on the issue of illegal immigration across the Mediterranean, pointing to the importance of cooperation to combat it.
He praised Korno for the close coordination and cooperation between the Lebanese army and the United Nations forces operating in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) in general, and the French battalion in particular.
France has participated since the establishment of UNIFIL in 1978 with a battalion of regarding 700 soldiers.
For his part, the Lebanese Minister of Defense thanked France for its permanent support to Lebanon and its institutions, especially the army, explaining to his French counterpart the tasks entrusted to the army at the borders and the interior, referring to its achievements in confronting terrorism and combating illegal immigration across the Mediterranean.
Lakourno met earlier today with the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, and discussed with him the situation in Lebanon and bilateral relations.
The French minister also met with the Commander of the Lebanese Army, General Joseph Aoun, and discussed relations of cooperation between the armies of the two countries, according to a statement by the Lebanese Army Command.
The French Minister of Defense arrived in Lebanon on Saturday on a visit during which he inspected the French peacekeeping battalion in UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, and spent New Year’s Eve with the soldiers of his country’s battalion.