We just had a very good meeting with Prime Minister Salam who had kindly invited heads of mission of members of the International Support Group to meet him here in the Serail to set out his concerns and discuss efforts being made to take forward the ISG support agendas.
The following are my own impressions of some of the points made in response.
Firstly, ISG members reiterated their support for the Prime Minister's leadership. We expressed strong solidarity with Lebanon in the light of the terrorist threat, and congratulated the Prime Minister on the recent successes of the security forces.
Secondly, ISG members welcomed the understanding reached within the Council of Ministers to facilitate the government's work. We shared the Prime Minister's deep concern at the ongoing failure of parliament to elect a president and joined him in stressing the importance of Lebanon's leaders moving to ensure that the election takes place without further delay.
Finally, and with regard to the ISG support agendas, members of the ISG reaffirmed their commitment to promote international assistance to Lebanon. We welcomed the successful meeting in Rome two weeks ago on support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. We will remain engaged on all of the issues and will actively look for opportunities in the coming period to highlight Lebanon's needs, particularly in respect of assistance and stabilization efforts in the face of the unprecedented burdens Lebanon is bearing as a result of the Syrian conflict and the presence of so many Syrian refugees in the country.