BEIRUT, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday, during which he affirmed Cairo's "full support" for Aoun's security roadmap for southern Lebanon, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported.
During the meeting held at the Baabda presidential palace, Abdelatty said Egypt "will spare no effort" in using its regional and global ties to prevent escalation and "defuse the crisis," while condemning Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty "in the strongest possible terms," the NNA reported.
He specifically endorsed the Lebanese government's decision to restrict all weapons to state institutions, a key element of Aoun's recently-announced plan, it reported.
Abdelatty called his fourth visit to Beirut in 18 months "a clear reflection of Egypt's engagement," and highlighted strong bilateral coordination across presidential and ministerial levels, noting recent high-level bilateral meetings and the activation of the Egyptian-Lebanese Joint Higher Committee, it reported.
In a separate statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty was quoted as saying that "any Egyptian move towards Lebanon is based on the constants of supporting its unity, sovereignty, security and stability."
He voiced concern over "the escalation of Israeli aggressions on Lebanese territory" and urged "the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces and stop their violations of Lebanese sovereignty," read the statement.
For his part, Aoun thanked Egypt for its "steadfast and supportive positions in Lebanon in various circumstances," acknowledged Cairo's role in supporting regional stability, and affirmed Lebanon's willingness to deepen bilateral coordination and cooperation, read the statement.
According to the statement, the two sides also addressed regional developments, with Abdelatty reviewing Egypt's efforts to consolidate the Gaza ceasefire agreement and implement UN Resolution 2803 passed on Nov. 17 concerning the agreement, while noting Egypt's preparations for the upcoming International Conference on Early Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza.
Abdelatty's visit came five days after Aoun unveiled a security roadmap for southern Lebanon, pledging to deploy the army to the border region once Israel halts violations and withdraws its remaining forces.
Speaking then at the army's South Litani Sector headquarters in Tyre, Aoun said the plan would be sent immediately to the "Quintet Committee" -- the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar -- as Lebanon's proposal for stabilizing the frontier. ■
