CAIRO, Nov 25 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty stressed Egypt's support for empowering Lebanon's national institutions, notably the Lebanese military.

The foreign minister also underlined the need to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and that the Lebanese army and the UNIFIL be the only armed forces south of the Litani River, which lies about 30 km (around 20 miles) from Lebanon's southern border.

Abdelatty made the remarks during his meeting on Monday with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah BouHabib, on the sidelines of their participation in the Rome MED Dialogues conference, said Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Tamim Khallaf.

The spokesman added that the two top diplomats discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the ongoing negotiations to reach a ceasefire deal.

Abdelatty emphasized Egypt's keenness to provide all forms of support for Lebanon at the current critical juncture, noting that Cairo sent a new shipment of medical and relief aid on November 13, which included 21 tons of food items and living supplies to ease the burden on displaced Lebanese.

He also reiterated Egypt's call for electing a Lebanese president based on the national consensus to end the presidential vacuum.

Abdelatty stated Egypt spares no effort in its contacts either at the bilateral level or through the five-member committee on Lebanon to resolve this political crisis. (MENA)

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