Qahwaji Concludes UK Visit, Discusses Bolstering Assistance to Lebanese Army
Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji conducted an official visit to the United Kingdom on September 24 and 25 as a guest of the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Sir David Richards, announced the British Embassy in Lebanon in a statement.
During the course of his visit Qahwaji met with senior officials at the Ministry of Defense, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the National Security Council.
Discussions focused on UK assistance to the Lebanese army and regional stability.
Richards discussed with Qahwaji ways in which the UK is increasing its assistance to the Lebanese army, in recognition of the critical role it plays in safeguarding Lebanese sovereignty, stability and independence.
British government officials reaffirmed to Qahwaji Lebanon's importance as an ally in the region and called on the international community to do all it can to assist the Lebanese army to limit the risk of instability in neighboring Syria from undermining Lebanese national security.
In addition, Qahwaji toured a number of military training facilities, including the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, where he met with Lebanese officers undergoing Army, Navy and Commando training courses, and Salisbury Plain Training Military Area, where he observed Lebanese officers undergoing the Urban Operations International Instructors Course.
This is the first official visit for a Lebanese army commander to the UK and is a signal of the increasing strength of the UK's defense relationship with Lebanon.
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