Ladies and gentlemen, It is a great honor to be invited to speak alongside General Kahwaji and General Shehaitly at this event. I think our collective attendance here is as strong a demonstration as one could wish of the international community’s deep and continuing interest in supporting Lebanon’s stability.
The Lebanese Armed Forces are a central pillar of that stability, a truly national institution which today faces unique challenges. For the United Nations, the LAF are the key partner in implementing Security Council resolution 1701 which has brought unprecedented calm to the south but also by extension to the rest of the country over the past 7 years. But the international community is also concerned, as the Security Council has made clear repeatedly, with Lebanon’s stability more broadly, and recently the Lebanese Armed Forces have faced additional very testing challenges in terms of internal security and on the country’s other borders.
With the strongest political support from President Sleiman and Lebanon’s leaders, the army has responded effectively to prevent conflict. But their ability to do so depends crucially on the capabilities available to them across the board. Recognizing the need, the Army, with support from the authorities, has prepared the 5 year plan which we will be looking at today.
I would like to congratulate the Army on the enormous effort which has gone into the preparation of this plan. I know the process which produced it to have been inclusive, transparent and professional. It sets out the capability development requirements for the coming five years with clear objectives based on clear and realistic expectations, with the aim of building and strengthening the army’s capabilities on a sound and contemporary basis.
I look forward to discussing the plan during the course of the morning. I know that the Lebanese Authorities have already made significant efforts in support of it but much more will remain to be done. And we look forward to increased and additional international support for the army in its tasks as this goes forward.
It is an honor for me as the representative of the Secretary-General to recall what the Secretary General has said about this process. In his latest report, he welcomed the work being carried out on this plan to enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces and the efforts made to ensure that the plan reflects the requirements and objectives, including the objectives of the strategic dialogue, which UNIFIL has entered into with the LAF on requirements in the south. He encouraged the Government and the international community to be forthcoming in support of the plan when it is finalized. He stands ready to do what he can to assist the Armed Forces and the Government of Lebanon as they seek to carry forward the plan.
On that note, I would just like to end to say that my office, UNSCOL, and UNIFIL will of course offer every support in working with interested missions here, all of which have provided assistance in the past, as the plan moves forward and again to congratulate the commander of the army, Gen.Qahwaji, and Gen. Shehaitly and of course the LAF team which worked extremely hard to produce this professional document.
Thank you very much
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