NNA - House Speaker Nabih Berri stressed today the need for Israel to commit to withdrawing from Lebanese territory and stopping its violations.

He said: "Israel must commit to withdrawing from the Lebanese lands it still occupies in accordance with the terms of the agreement and stop its violations and systematic destruction of villages, fields, and agricultural and forest areas.”

This came during his meeting at Ain Al-Tineh with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and the accompanying delegation, in the presence of the United Nations Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Commander of the International Peacekeeping Forces in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL General Aroldo Lazaro, and media advisor to the House Speaker, Ali Hamdan.

Berri praised all the positions of the UN Secretary-General, the efforts and sacrifices of the UNIFIL forces in the south, and their role in the Five-Member Committee.

The meeting was an chance to discuss the general situation in Lebanon and the region, and the political and field developments in light of Israel's continued violation of the ceasefire terms and its occupation of parts of the southern Lebanese border lands.

==========R.Sh.