Lebanon Prepares for Rome II Aid Conference

The Higher Defense Council will hold a meeting on Friday at Baabda Palace under the chairmanship of President Michel Aoun, attended by Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun and heads of Lebanon's security agencies to discuss preparations for a major donor conference (Rome II) and to determine Lebanon's security needs from participating countries, media reports said Friday.

Heads of security agenceis have reportedly developed plans and a paper including the army and security forces' needs of weapons and military equipment to be presented to the conference, well-informed sources told al-Joumhouria daily.

On Thursday, a meeting between Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and Director-General of the Internal Security Forces Major General Imad Othman focused on the preparations for the conference which will witness approval of assistance to the ISF and army.

In 2014, an international donor conference was held in Rome to boost support for Lebanon's army and security forces.

The 2014 meeting brought together 40 countries and international organizations, but did not offer more than logistical assistance, although some participant countries voiced readiness to “support the Lebanese Armed Forces during the capabilities building and reinforcement process.”