Shatter calls for international assistance for Lebanon

Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter will today meet his Israeli counterparts, defence minister Moshe Ya'alon and justice minister Tzipi Livni, on the third day of his Middle East trip.

Mr Shatter arrived in Israel from Jordan where he saw first-hand the devastation caused by the Syrian civil war, visiting the UN-run Zaatri refugee camp.

Earlier he had spent two days in Lebanon where he took part in a ceremony marking the transition of authority for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) battalion from Ireland to Finland.

Mr Shatter said the role of the Unifil mission in maintaining peace, security and stability had taken on even greater significance with the massive influx of refugees fleeing Syrian.

Challenges
"The arrival of in excess of 800,000 people . . . into Lebanon, a country of only four million inhabitants before the crisis, has created major challenges for the Lebanese authorities and people . . . In tandem with this, we can see increased instability in the region."

A contingent of 175 Irish troops remains on duty with Unifil in southern Lebanon, and Mr Shatter pledged continued Irish support.

Mr Shatter was briefed by Lebanese defence minister Fayez Ghosn on the impact of the flood of Syrian refugees, and on Lebanon’s request for EU assistance in training and equipment for its armed forces.

“It’s very important that the international community assumes its obligations to assist Lebanon,” Mr Shatter said.

He will also travel to Ramallah in the West Bank today to meet Palestinian officials, before returning home tomorrow.