NNA - House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Wednesday met in Ain el-Tineh with United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and the accompanying delegation, in the presence of UNIFIL Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lázaro, and Speaker Berri’s Advisor Ali Hamdan.

The meeting reportedly addressed te latest developments in Lebanon, the tasks of UNIFIL force, and the extension of its mandate.

At the beginning of the meeting, Speaker Berri expressed his thanks and appreciation to Major General Lázaro for "the efforts he made throughout his tenure as Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to implement UN Resolution 1701 and to strengthen the ties of cooperation and friendship between UNIFIL peacekeepers and the people of the South," wishing him success in his new duties.

Speaker Berri stressed "Lebanon's commitment to international legitimacy through the continued presence of the UNIFIL force operating in southern Lebanon and the importance of its role in Lebanon's future, security, stability, and the stability of the region, as well as the role of this force in overseeing the framework agreement related to the maritime borders, as well as the recent ceasefire agreement, which Israel continues to violate daily and continues to occupy parts of Lebanese territory in the south."

Berri also stressed to Lacroix that Lebanon is firmly in favor of the international community and the U.N. Security Council extending UNIFIL’s mandate for a new term.

 On the other hand, Speaker Berri received MP Faisal Karami, with whom he discussed the general situation, political developments, and legislative affairs.

Speaker Berri also received National Defense Minister Michel Menassa, with whom he discussed the latest developments, especially the security ones.

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