The Lebanese Army Commander in Chief lays the foundation stone for the "Medical Waste Treatment" project in the Logistic Brigade
The Lebanese Army Commander in Chief General Joseph Aoun laid the foundation stone for the "Medical Waste Treatment" project in the Logistic Brigade, funded from Slovakia, Austria and the Czech countries through the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), in the presence of the Interim Minister of Environment Mr. Nasser Yassin, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Mr. Miroslav Wlachovský, the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Lebanon Mr. Marek Varga, the Ambassador of Austria to Lebanon Mr. René Paul Amry, the Czech Ambassador to Lebanon Mr. Jiří Doležel, the Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon Mr. Jesús Santos Aguado, the representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Mr. Sami Dimassi, and a number of military attachés and officers.
The Army Commander delivered a speech in which he stressed the importance of the project in the environmental and health fields, given the danger of medical supplies generated from hospitals. He noted that the Army Command is devoting a large part of its capabilities to the development aspect of its missions, including protecting the environment and heritage, and supporting all activities related to them. Pointing out that he army is putting all its military, logistical and human resources at the service of environmental affairs within its strategic vision to preserve the environment in Lebanon by suppressing fire, spraying pesticides, cleaning archeological sites, protecting cultural property, sorting out waste, surveying quarries, providing old military equipment to fisheries resource associations to place at the seabed, planting trees in border areas along the eastern mountain range, shifting towards alternative energy in most military barracks and posts, in addition to clearing minefields and lands of unexploded ordnance.
“There is no doubt that the commitment of the UNEP and the countries of Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic to Lebanon and its army is a further confirmation of their constant interest, especially with regard to the citizens health and their environment”, he added. “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our friends for submitting this project that will be managed by the army in an exemplary manner and put at the disposal of the Lebanese medical sector.”
The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia said that the project constitutes a targeted, necessary and comprehensive assistance to Lebanon in the long term, pointing out that his country is making joint efforts with Austria and the Czech Republic, and assigning priority to helping Lebanon apply sound environmental conditions within the health sector.
The project is a step forward towards sustainable environmental management, the minister Yassin said, praising the cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and the Lebanese Armed Forces to face many challenges at the national level, particularly in regard to quarries and the disposal of hazardous chemicals and combating forest fires.
The representative of UNEP also delivered a speech in which he highlighted the importance of treatment of medical waste as an issue that requires immediate attention, thanking the Lebanese Armed Forces for their cooperation in completing the first phase in this context, laying the groundwork for future steps leading to sustainable environmental solutions at the national level.
General Aoun met the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Lebanon, and they discussed the army's missions and its necessary needs in light of the current crisis. Minister Wlachovský praised the national role of the military and its sacrifices to protect security and stability, considering it the backbone of Lebanon.
