I had an excellent meeting with the President. His strong support for UNIFIL and commitment to the implementation of resolution 1701 has been evident, among other things, by the fact that he was the first Lebanese Head of State to visit UNIFIL.

I conveyed my appreciation for the enduring strategic partnership between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces that has continued to deliver through these turbulent times.

I informed the President that during my tour of the Blue Line I had witnessed first-hand the excellent work that the LAF is doing on the ground in collaboration with UNIFIL.

We in the United Nations place the utmost importance on security and stability in Lebanon, particularly at this critical juncture. I assured the President of our complete support and engagement at every level, whether in UNIFIL or at the UN headquarters, to bolster the efforts of the Lebanese leadership to safeguard Lebanon from the negative impact of regional developments.