President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, continued his meetings in New York on the sidelines of the Lebanese delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations at its 72nd session.

He met in this context with a delegation of the Task Force for Lebanon, headed by Edward Gabriel, and attended by members of the Lebanese delegation and the Chargé d'Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, Carla Jazzar.

The meeting focused on the Lebanese-US relations and the role of the delegation in enhancing and activating them in various fields. Members of the delegation praised the military achievements of the Lebanese Army and the success of the "Fajr El Jouroud" operation.

President Aoun welcomed the delegation, underlining "contacts with its members to promote Lebanese-US relations." He thanked "the efforts of the Task Force for Lebanon" to convey the Lebanese opinion to the American administration and talk with US officials and politicians in the interest of Lebanon.

"The army is able to confront terrorism and terrorists, and the assistance it receives is essential to enable it to carry out its tasks fully in the face of a difficult and experienced enemy who has succeeded in spreading fear and murder all over the world," he said.

He assured the delegation who asked him about the situation in Lebanon that "things are going on the right track" and that he is "determined to complete the process of reform and fighting corruption." He pointed out that "corruption cannot be eliminated in just nine months," the duration of his mandate, and that "many things have already been achieved and cannot be underestimated, although it remains a small proportion to the great work that must be done."

"The Israeli enemy remains lurking. Israel keeps violating Lebanon's sovereignty through daily breaches of its airspace and thus international resolutions. The international community has not been able to compel it to abide by the resolutions in force, not even by the international solutions that are put forward for the sake of peace in the region," he said.

Separately, the head of the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations, Ambassador Nawaf Salam, held a reception for the Lebanese community in New York, in which Lebanese and Americans of Lebanese origin from various US states took part in welcoming President Aoun and the accompanying delegation.

Aoun delivered a speech on the occasion, whereby he assured that Lebanese expatriates around the world were the focus of his attention and that "the visits paid by him or by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Gebran Bassil, aim mainly at listening to Lebanese expats, wherever they were, and reassuring them that the State is interested in them and in strengthen their connection to their homeland."

He stressed that "Lebanon has been able to overcome the difficulties, problems and tremors that the region has been exposed to (...) thanks to their sense of awareness and their understanding that differences in politics, no matter how harsh they were, should not spoil national unity."

The president finally called on the Lebanese Diaspora in New York to "visit Lebanon during the annual holidays and whenever they have the opportunity, to celebrate with their families, friends and loved ones the gradual return of the country to its health

Source: AFP