Cypriot Defense Minister Dimitris Eliadis held talks on Saturday with senior Lebanese officials who stressed that the bilateral ties between Lebanon and Cyprus are “excellent.”

“Lebanon's stability is a key component to maintain stability in the region,” Eliadis said during a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Minister Fayez Ghosn.

The Internal Security Forces and Army resumed on Saturday the crackdown on cannabis fields in the eastern Bekaa.

The Directorate General of ISF issued a communique saying that 130 dunums of cannabis crops were destroyed in the village of Hermel in the Bekaa.

Hizbullah International Relations official Ammar Moussawi stressed on Saturday that the party supports the measures undertaken by the army to preserve stability in Lebanon.

“The army is a national institution that is tasked with maintaining stability in the country and pursuing security violators,” Moussawi said in a meeting with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly.

The Army Command announced on Saturday the infiltration of a Free Syrian Army unit of the Bekaa town of Arsal on Friday night.

It said in a statement that the unit, “backed by a large number of gunmen, infiltrated the outskirts of the town and then attacked an army post in the area.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun kicked off on Saturday a visit to the southern region of Jezzine where he stressed the importance of national unity and mutual coexistence.

He said: “We defend ourselves with national unity.”

Prime Minister Najib Miqati denied claims that the government may be backing down from its agreement over a new wage scale, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He told the daily ahead of his trip to New York that the decision was taken at cabinet and discussions are ongoing to find the sources of its funding.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel stressed that none of the wanted suspects in Lebanon enjoy political cover, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

He told the newspaper: “The Lebanese army will continue its raids until all wanted suspects and gangs are arrested.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed the importance of the complementary role of the army and resistance, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday.

He explained that the Lebanese army is functioning as a border guard “and it would be incapable of defending Lebanon in case of an assault, especially an Israeli one."

Prime Minister Najib Miqati traveled to New York City on Saturday to take part in the United Nations General Assembly, where he is likely to stress the Lebanese government's policy of disassociating itself from the Syrian crisis, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He will likely also demand the international community's assistance in catering to the needs of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

The Appeals Chamber has scheduled an open hearing on 1 October at 9:15 a.m. to hear the appeal against the decision on the jurisdiction and the legality of the Tribunal, announced the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in a press release on Friday.

The Trial Chamber dismissed on July 27 the four Defense motions challenging the jurisdiction and legality of the Tribunal.