BEIRUT: French President Emmanuel Macron has emphasized the importance of 鈥渃ontinuing to support Lebanon in asserting its sovereignty over all its territory.鈥�
Macron was speaking from Beirut鈥檚 Presidential Palace on Friday, where he met with President Joseph Aoun.
Macron said: 鈥淜eeping Lebanon shielded from external interference is a prerequisite for the ongoing implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which was a diplomatic success.鈥�

He pledged to 鈥渃ontinue supporting the army in its deployment in the south and working with Lebanon to demarcate its (land) borders along the Blue Line.鈥�
Macron鈥檚 visit comes a week after Aoun was elected, ending a 26-month period without a president for his country and following Israeli assaults that have weakened Hezbollah militarily and reshuffled Lebanon鈥檚 political landscape.
During a joint press conference, Macron told Aoun: 鈥淵ou have ended the political vacuum that Lebanon experienced, and you are putting Lebanon on the path to recovery. You are the hope, and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam embodies this hope. The Lebanese鈥檚 election of you confirms their demand for change and the revival of Lebanon.鈥�
Macron also announced plans to organize an international conference during Aoun鈥檚 visit to France in a few weeks to 鈥渕obilize funding for Lebanon鈥檚 reconstruction.鈥�
He said: 鈥淲e will work on rallying the international community to support Lebanon in all sectors. UNIFIL鈥檚 work must be strengthened to enable it to fulfill its mission.鈥�
Aoun stressed the close links between the two presidents鈥� countries, saying: 鈥淚n the heart, mind, daily language, living history, and creative culture of every Lebanese, there is much of France.鈥�
The new president also urged his guest to 鈥渢estify to the entire world that the Lebanese people鈥檚 confidence in their country and state has returned, and that the world鈥檚 trust in Lebanon must fully return, because the real and authentic Lebanon has made its comeback.鈥�
Macron landed in Beirut on Friday morning accompanied by a delegation which included French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian.
The French president met Lebanon鈥檚 caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the airport and praised 鈥渢he mission undertaken by Mikati over the past years to serve everyone in Lebanon, especially during the significantly difficult stage resulting from the last war.鈥�
Macron also laid a wreath on the unknown soldier鈥檚 tombstone next to Lebanon鈥檚 National Museum and visited Gemmayze, where he was briefed on restoration work in that area, which was severely damaged in the Beirut Port explosion four years ago.
Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres began his visit to Lebanon on Friday by heading to UNIFIL鈥檚 headquarters in Naqoura, where he delivered a speech which contained several warnings to Israel and Hezbollah.
鈥淭he continued occupation by the Israeli army inside the UNIFIL area of operations, and the conduct of military operations in Lebanese territory, are violations of resolution 1701 and pose an ongoing threat to your safety and security. They must stop,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he UN peacekeepers have uncovered over 100 weapons caches belonging to Hezbollah or other armed groups since Nov. 27, the date on which the agreement went into effect.
鈥淭he presence of armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Lebanese army and the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces between the Blue Line and the Litani River significantly violates resolution 1701 and jeopardizes Lebanon鈥檚 stability,鈥� he continued.
Guterres met the commander of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, Gen. Aroldo L谩zaro, and was briefed on the challenges faced during the Israeli army鈥檚 war against Hezbollah. He also inspected the Blue Line and addressed the international forces there, describing them as 鈥渢he peacekeeping frontline鈥� and praising their 鈥渃ourage and resilience in the face of attacks through the Blue Line.鈥�
He said: 鈥淵ou showed the importance of the blue helmets in deterring violence, supporting de-escalation, and protecting civilians. Your contribution has been crucial in restoring stability in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line. Thanks to your efforts, to a great extent, we are in a period of relative calm that requires support.
鈥淭his is a critical opportunity to support the full implementation of Resolution 1701 and deliver lasting security for the people of Lebanon and Israel.鈥�
He added: 鈥淵ou have our full support to implement any adjustments that may be necessary during this phase. We will continue to work closely with the countries contributing to UNIFIL troops to ensure that you receive enhanced capabilities, including mine clearance and the disposal of unexploded ordnance, to enable you to resume patrols and monitoring missions.
鈥淭hese capabilities, along with the operational methods within the framework of your mandate, are vital to restoring freedom of movement and access across UNIFIL鈥檚 area of operations.鈥�
Guterres also stressed that the same messages would be conveyed to the Lebanese officials with whom he is scheduled to meet on Saturday.
He continued: 鈥淎ll parties have an obligation to ensure the safety of our personnel. The inviolability of UN premises must be respected at all times. Attacks against peacekeepers are absolutely unacceptable. They violate international law and international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime.
鈥淭he Lebanese Armed Forces, as the sole guarantor of Lebanon鈥檚 security, are deploying in greater numbers in southern Lebanon, with the support of UNIFIL and members of the Cessation of Hostilities Implementation Mechanism.
鈥淵our strong support and close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces will be essential to supporting a lasting cessation of hostilities and achieving the intended objective of Resolution 1701. We urge the international community to enhance its support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.鈥�
Regarding the formation of a new government for Lebanon, and paving the way for its vote of confidence in parliament despite the absence of the two Shiite blocs 鈥� Amal Movement and Hezbollah 鈥� in the parliamentary consultations on its formation, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam met speaker Nabih Berri, who had boycotted the consultations last Wednesday.
Following the meeting, Salam said: 鈥淭here is a consensus from all blocs and independent MPs on the need to quickly revive the country and work on its recovery. Everyone is ready to cooperate positively. There are no obstacles or disruptions from any party. There are only two options: consensus and consensus. Disruptions and failure are not options.
鈥淣o one will obstruct, and no one will allow the government formation to fail, so that recovery can begin,鈥� he continued. 鈥淏erri and I are on the same page. I will remain in constant contact with him until the government is formed.鈥�
Salam did not discuss his plans for the government, but said he has 鈥渁 preliminary vision 鈥� that I will present to Aoun.鈥�