Qahwaji Tells Int'l Community Support Needed to Enable Army to Confront 'Terrorism, Occupation'

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji on Monday said the internationally-backed five-year plan to develop the Lebanese army's capabilities is aimed at enabling the military institution to “defend its land and people” against “terrorism, occupation and aggression.”

"The burdens faced by the Lebanese army in the fields of defense and security cannot be confronted at all through its current capabilities in terms of manpower, weapons and equipment,” Qahwaji said at a meeting convened by U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly and UNIFIL chief Paolo Serra to discuss ways of improving international assistance to the Capabilities Development Plan of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and countries contributing troops to UNIFIL.

“These burdens were aggravated, as you know, by the successive regional crises and their repercussions in one way or another on Lebanon,” Qahwaji added.

The army chief said the current situation pushed the Lebanese government, “despite the difficult economic circumstances in the country, to endorse a five-year plan to equip the army, which can provide an essential part of its needs should the friendly countries contribute to the immediate requirements of the plan and to the rest of the necessities according to priority.”

"Our first and last aim from this five-year plan is to enable the army to defend its land and people against any foreign attack and to protect the safety of the country from the threats of terrorism and security violators,” Qahwaji went on to say.

He noted that the realization of the plan "will not only contribute to stability in our country but also to regional and international stability, as everyone knows the extent of sacrifices offered by our army in the face of terrorism and everyone knows that this army has never attacked anyone, but rather defended its country against occupation and aggression, whichever side it came from.”

For his part, Plumbly "encouraged further international support for the LAF’s Capabilities Development Plan that was finalized earlier in April this year," according to a statement issued by his office.

Plumbly noted “the complex challenges facing the army at a time when it was suffering from limited resources but hailed the successful role it has played in safeguarding Lebanon's security and stability particularly during the recent period.”

The U.N. officials and the representatives of participating member states “agreed that the plan sends a strong message about LAF’s commitment to institution building, professionalism and transparency.”

It was agreed that Plumbly and UNIFIL would “follow up and assist the LAF in coordinating responses to the plan, including in the context of the strategic dialogue.”