Visit of Lazaro to Berri and Mikati... Affirmation of Cooperation with "UNIFIL"

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed the government's commitment to the decision issued by the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the international forces operating in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a full year. During his meeting with the commander of the international forces in the south, General Arnaldo Lazaro, Mikati stated: "The Lebanese government is ready to cooperate with UNIFIL, through the army, to maintain security in southern Lebanon." He praised the effective collaboration between the army and UNIFIL, urging the international forces to work to stop Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty. Mikati welcomed General Lazaro, who was heading a delegation from UNIFIL, earlier today at the Grand Serail, in the presence of the government's coordinator with the international forces, Brigadier General Munir Shihadeh, and Mikati's advisor, Ziad Mikati. Lazaro and the accompanying delegation later visited Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri at the second presidential palace in Ain al-Tineh, where the situation in the south and the missions of the international forces were discussed.