Bou Habib Meets Irish Counterpart to Discuss Coordination between Army and UNIFIL

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants in the caretaker government, Abdullah Bou Habib, began his activities on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York by meeting with Irish Foreign and Defense Minister Michael Martin. The two ministers agreed on "the importance of achieving justice in the murder of Irish soldier Sean Rooney, who was working within UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon." Bou Habib expressed "Lebanon's gratitude and appreciation for the important and constructive role played by the Irish contingent within UNIFIL since its establishment in 1978 and to date, and Lebanon's commitment to enhancing this participation." The discussions also addressed "the importance of coordination between the Lebanese government, represented by the army, and UNIFIL forces, to ensure the success of the peacekeeping mission and to maintain stability and calm in the south, as well as regional security." Following this, Bou Habib participated in a ministerial meeting on the Middle East at the invitation of the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and the President of the International Peace Institute, Prince Zaid Ra'ad Al Hussein, in the presence of several Arab and foreign foreign ministers and political and diplomatic figures.