(PARIS, FRANCE) — Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil met for a meeting with United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday to discuss the role Lebanon would play as part of a global coalition to fight terror in the Middle East.
The meeting was during a Paris conference on peace and stability, where both Bassil and Kerry are attending. The two discussed “circumstances and factors” that shape Lebanon’s role in the war against terror, according to sources.
During a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last week, the U.S won backing from 10 Arab countries, including Lebanon, for a coalition to fight the Sunni militants who have seized parts of Iraq and Syria.
Bassil held talks with several other foreign ministers at the conference, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Italian Foreign Minister Frederica Mogherini, who is expected to assume her post as the new EU foreign policy chief this fall.
Sources say the meeting lasted 25-minutes and was “positive” and “cooperative.”
According to sources, the meeting touched on all issues related to Lebanon, but especially focused on the war on terror and the Islamic State’s impact on Lebanon. Kerry also pledged continued aid to the Lebanese Army.
French President Francois Hollande also pledged support to the Lebanese Army and underlined the need to preserve Lebanon’s unity, security and sovereignty in light of ISIS threats.
Addressing the foreign ministers of more than 24 states during the International Conference on Peace and Security in Iraq, Bassil outlined immediate, short term- and long-term measures required to effectively and efficiently counter terrorism.
“Lebanon has been a pioneer in the fight against sectarianism and terrorism and its troops have every single time proven their professionalism and patriotism,” Bassil said.
According to Bassil, time was pressing on weakening ISIS’ impact.
“There is a need to act collectively and swiftly,” he said.