Saudi Arabia called for supporting the Lebanese Army based on a clear mechanism that ensures that it is the sole legitimate power in the country. In remarks before the Rome 2 Conference on Thursday, the head of the Saudi delegation, Deputy Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh, said that the vision of Saudi Arabia “meets with the objectives of the conference that seeks to preserve the security and stability of Lebanon under Security Council Resolution 1701, which defines the army as the sole legitimate power in accordance with the Constitution and the provisions of the Taif Accord.” He emphasized the Saudi stance towards the need to develop a clear vision of a mechanism that supports the Lebanese army according to its needs. On the sidelines of the conference, which is hosted by Italy to rally support for the Lebanese Army and security institutions, Hariri held separate meetings with Ayesh, the personal representative of the Russian President for the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. In his speech before the conference, the Lebanese premier said: “The Lebanese government recognizes that it is enjoying an exceptional moment of international consensus and support. We consider that it is in our national interest to preserve this international consensus and as such, we are committed to doing our part.” Hariri touched on the issue of the national defense strategy, which President Michel Aoun said he would address following the upcoming parliamentary elections. “The President of the Lebanese Republic, Michel Aoun, announced three days ago, that the National Defense Strategy will be discussed following the legislative elections in May. I join President Aoun’s call to the International community to support the Lebanese Armed Forces, to enable them to assume their duty of preserving security and stability in accordance with the National Defense Strategy,” he stated. The Lebanese premier emphasized that his government’s priority was to create a “virtuous cycle of security, stability, growth and employment for Lebanon and the Lebanese.” He noted in this regard that Rome 2 was a first step towards achieving this end, underlining his country’s commitment to the policy of dissociation, which was adopted by the government in December.