Plumbly Meets Saudi Officials, Stresses Importance of Supporting Lebanese Army

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly on Monday met with top Saudi officials and stressed the importance of international support for the Lebanese Army, according to a statement issued by his office.

“He met with senior Saudi officials, including the Second Deputy Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, and the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz,” said the statement.

“Discussions during the visit, which had been planned for some weeks, focused on the support agenda for Lebanon and the region ahead of the conference on Syrian refugees which is to be held in Kuwait on January 15, and following the meetings of the International Support Group for Lebanon which was inaugurated in New York in September,” it added.

Following his talks with the Saudi officials, Plumbly noted “the crucial importance of the Lebanese Armed Forces for security and stability in Lebanon and the calls by the (U.N.) Security Council, the (U.N.) Secretary-General and the International Support Group for international assistance in support of the LAF.”

He warmly welcomed “the very generous pledge of assistance from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in that regard recently announced by President (Michel) Suleiman.”

On Sunday, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's office said he received a phone call from Plumbly during which they discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.

“The conversation focused in particular on the issue of the Syrian refugees and the efforts exerted by the international organization to help them meet their basic needs,” the office said.

On December 29, President Suleiman announced that Saudi Arabia had pledged to donate $3 billion to buy French weapons for the Lebanese Army.

French President Francois Hollande, who was on a visit to Saudi Arabia, said his country would "meet" any requests from Lebanon.