France wants to maintain the highest level of military cooperation with the Lebanese Army in order to strengthen peace in Lebanon, French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre de Villiers said Friday after talks with Defense Minister Samir Moqbel. De Villiers, who also met with Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi, said his talks with Lebanese officials centered on military cooperation between the Lebanese and French armies. Describing his meeting with Moqbel as "cordial and important," he said: "We discussed cooperation between the Lebanese and French armies. This cooperation is largely effective. This morning, I consulted with French officials on cooperation with the Lebanese Army. In this respect, I would like to stress our commitment to maintaining the highest level of cooperation between the two armies in order to be able as much as possible to reinforce peace in this country, which deserves to live in peace." The French official's talks with Moqbel covered the current situation in Lebanon and regional and international developments, particularly supplying the Army with sophisticated and essential arms funded by a $3 billion Saudi grant to help troops in repulsing terror attacks on the outskirts of the northeastern towns of Arsal and Ras Baalbek and other positions, according to a statement released by the defense minister's media office. The talks also dealt with cooperation in the field of training courses for some Lebanese military units, the statement said. De Villiers, heading a French military delegation and accompanied by newly appointed French Ambassador Emmanuel Bonne, met later with Kahwagi at the latter's office in Yarze to discuss ways of expanding relations between the two countries' armies. Kahwagi and the French delegation were briefed by a number of senior Army officers on the Army's military situation and phases of the implementation of the Donas project to meet the Lebanese Army's needs for armament, equipment and training in line with the Saudi grant, the National News Agency reported. Lebanon began receiving its first shipment of French weapons financed by the Saudi grant in April. These included dozens of armored vehicles, anti-tank guided missiles and Cougar attack helicopters. In addition to the $3 billion military aid, Saudi Arabia has also promised an additional $1 billion grant to purchase arms and equipment to the Army and other security forces to help them in the ongoing battle against terrorism.
