President Joseph Aoun is set to deliver Lebanon’s address before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
Aoun, who arrived in New York on Sunday, held a series of meetings on Monday with representatives of the Lebanese diaspora as well as with European leaders, urging the latter to pressure Israel to end its ongoing air raids on Lebanon.
In a meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Aoun highlighted the role of the Lebanese Army south of the Litani River in the framework of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He stressed that the government remains committed to the gradual implementation of its decision to collect illegal weapons, asserting that the right to bear arms must rest solely with legitimate state forces.
In a separate meeting with Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, whose country contributes troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Aoun discussed the situation in southern Lebanon.
Separately, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini expressed his country’s readiness to support Lebanon in the social, humanitarian and health sectors. President Aoun raised with him the issue of the large Syrian refugee population in Lebanon. He reiterated the need for their return to Syria and for humanitarian aid to be provided within Syrian territory.
President Pellegrini extended an invitation to Aoun to visit Slovakia, with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
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