国际英语新闻:Lebanon's PM vows to enhance Lebanese naval capabilities

BEIRUT, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Prime Minister Saad Hariri vowed Monday to implement UN Resolution 2433 aimed at empowering Lebanon's maritime forces, a statement by the PM's office reported.

"I am fully dedicated to further develop a plan to increase the Lebanese naval capabilities," he said.

One of the steps that will be taken by the government for this purpose is the approval before August 31 of a strategy for empowering Lebanon's naval capabilities, a plan within Hariri's priority to strengthen state security institutions.

"This strategy aims at preserving the country's sovereignty of maritime territories while fighting against terrorism, human trafficking, illegal immigration and smuggling of products," the prime minister was quoted as saying during his visit to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force at Port of Beirut.

Meanwhile, Stefano Del Col, UNIFIL chief, said that the common maritime trainings taking place between the Lebanese maritime forces and the UNIFIL aim at enabling Lebanese forces to control Lebanese sea lanes and territorial waters.