Lebanon’s Minister of Defense, Elias Bou Saab, held a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Minister of Defense and Military Production, Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki, during which bilateral cooperation between the Lebanese and Egyptian armies was discussed, alongside ways to exchange military expertise.
Talks also touched on various topics of importance, including the current situation in the region and its repercussions, whereby both men agreed to continuously maintain communication in this respect, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.
The meeting took place on Sunday on the sidelines of the third edition of the World Youth Forum which was held in South Sinai’s Sharm El Sheikh, under the theme: “International Peace and Security: Current Challenges.”
Representing Lebanese President Michel Aoun at a panel discussion chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during the World Youth Forum, Bou Saab highlighted “the importance of setting the necessary mechanisms through this Forum to enable the youth in their countries to play a greater role in building their future.”
The dialogue session was a chance to dwell on various hour issues, namely the security of the Mediterranean, the subject of illegal immigration, displacement and human trafficking.
Bou Saab briefed the attendees on Lebanon's experience and its assumed human responsibilities pertaining to the displacement issue, outlining the financial, economic and security burdens Lebanon has incurred as a result.
For his part, President El-Sisi expressed his concern over the worsening of Lebanon's crisis, fearing that Lebanon would witness similar events to that of Syria, God forbid.
In a statement by Bou Saab’s press office, it considered that the words of the Egyptian President “fall within the context of caution and presumption, at which time the displacement crisis would increase and would not be limited to the Syrian displaced alone, but may even worsen to include the Lebanese themselves if they decide to move to other countries.”
