UN Secretary-General comments to Media before Meeting Lebanon Caretaker Prime Minister

I just arrived from Naqoura from a visit to UNIFIL, and I felt extremely proud of the courage and resilience of the soldiers of UNIFIL, and especially the fact that, in an extremely difficult moment, when there was enormous pressure for them to leave, and I could witness even some, in one of the units, how it was shot at.

I was very proud of the courage of the UNIFIL soldiers that decided to stay. To stay at the service of peace, and to stay to create the conditions for a cease-fire to finally happen.

Now, we want to do everything possible to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces, as we consider the Lebanese Armed Forces the absolutely essential instrument for the protection of the Lebanese people.

Thank you very much.