Suleiman, Letta Agree on Support for Lebanon Stability amid Promise for More Refugee Assistance

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
  • W460
  • W460
  • W460

President Michel Suleiman and Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta agreed on Saturday on the need for the international community to continue its strong support for Lebanon to consolidate its stability as the visiting official promised to increase aid for Syrian refugees in the region.

Suleiman and Letta stressed "a strong and coordinated" international support for Lebanon to strengthen its stability, and back its economy and Lebanese Armed Forces, a Baabda Palace statement said.

They also called for international support to help Lebanon confront the crisis of Syrian refugees in Lebanon in accordance with the decisions reached by the International Support Group for Lebanon, the statement said.

The support group was inaugurated in New York in September on the sidelines of the 68th session of the General Assembly. It undertook to work together to mobilize support for the sovereignty and state institutions of Lebanon and to highlight and promote efforts to assist the country where it was most affected by the Syrian crisis, including in respect of strengthening the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces, assistance to refugees, and structural and financial support to the government.

Suleiman and Letta agreed that the international community should share the burden of more than 800,000 Syrians, who have fled to Lebanon since the civil war erupted in Syria nearly three years ago, the Baabda statement said.

On the support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, both leaders stressed the importance of backing them as entities that reflect the unity of the state and preserve security, it said.

Suleiman welcomed Italy's readiness to support the Lebanese army, mainly in training and providing military expertise.

He also praised Italy for organizing an international conference in Rome to back the capabilities of the LAF in coordination with the United Nations and Lebanese authorities.

After his meeting with Suleiman, Letta held talks with caretaker Premier Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail.

He said at a joint press conference with Miqati that Italy supports Lebanese institutions and is committed to help Lebanon confront the burden of Syrian refugees.

Letta said Italy was increasing its assistance to the refugees in the region through the U.N. to 50 million dollars.

The visiting premier also met with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh before heading to southern Lebanon to inspect Italy's UNIFIL contingent.

Comments 2
Thumb mckinl 14 December 2013, 11:34

Yes we have seen the international community's strong support for Lebanon by all the starving and freezing refugees in the Bekaa Valley. Talk is cheap Mr. Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

Thumb benzona 14 December 2013, 16:09

give these refugees some of your m8 politibureau income. give them shelter. Pourquoi vois-tu la paille qui est dans l'œil de ton frère et n'aperçois-tu pas la poutre qui est dans ton œil à toi !