BEIRUT: Bolstering Lebanon’s stability was at the heart of the International Support Group meeting held Friday in Paris, where Beirut was urged to uphold its dissociation policy and regional states were called on to respect the country’s sovereignty.

The meeting also paved the way for the Paris IV donor conference in March, a major boon for the government’s bid to attract more investment in Lebanon’s ailing infrastructure.

“The participants reaffirm their commitment to the stability, security and sovereignty of Lebanon and their support for the ongoing efforts of the Lebanese authorities to restore normal functioning of institutions and prepare the holding of legislative elections by May 2018,” a joint statement released following a ministerial meeting of the ISG in Paris read.

“The group recalls the need to protect Lebanon from the crises that are destabilizing the Middle East and calls upon all regional states and organizations to work for the political, social, economic and financial stability and security of Lebanon, in full respect of its sovereignty and integrity.”

The ISG meets regularly, but was attended by high-level representatives on this occasion, including U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the foreign ministers of member states and U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

It was co-chaired by the United Nations and France.

The meeting was called for in the wake of the political crisis sparked by Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Nov. 4 announcement that he was stepping down, made while he was in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Hariri withdrew his resignation Tuesday after Cabinet endorsed a policy of dissociation from regional conflicts. ISG members welcomed Hariri’s return to his role as premier, saying the group would keep a close eye on the implementation of the dissociation policy. “In particular, [the ISG] calls upon all Lebanese parties to implement this tangible policy of dissociation from and noninterference in external conflicts,” the statement read.

Hariri had cited Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon and the region as a reason for his exit, but later said he would be willing to reconsider if Lebanon’s policy of dissociation was fully implemented.

In tandem with the new policy, the role of the U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon was praised by the ISG for maintaining stability, though the group stressed the need to fully implement U.N. resolutions.

French President Emmanuel Macron opened the meeting in the presence of Hariri and the U.N.’s Mohammed. In his speech, Macron said that the ISG meeting was vital given the recent period of instability.

“The crisis that has just occurred was linked to internal factors but also to regional tensions that weigh on a country that we all hold dear,” Macron said, noting that Lebanon’s stability is not just crucial for its citizens “but for the whole region, [which is] already heavily affected by the violence of conflict.”

He said that the ISG meeting demonstrated the international community’s will to see the implementation of the dissociation policy: “It’s the heart of the commitment of the Lebanese government, taken by all of the members of this national consensus Cabinet, Hezbollah included.”

Formed in September 2013, the ISG brings together the U.N., China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom and the U.S., along with the EU and the Arab League. It was designed to help mobilize support and assistance for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty and state institutions, and specifically encourages assistance for the Army.

The group also provides assistance for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and their host communities, and government programs and public services impacted by the Syrian crisis.

Macron said that many things have been achieved since 2013, but more must be done in the areas of security, humanitarian action and the economy. “Above all, it is essential that we mobilize increasingly for the strengthening of the Lebanese Army, [which is] key to the security of the country and the condition of its national unity,” he said.

For his part, Hariri thanked Macron for his efforts in holding the meeting, saying that it demonstrated a continued commitment to Lebanon.

Touching on the recent crisis, Hariri said it could have negatively impacted Lebanon across the board.

“This crisis has validated the attachment of the entire international community to Lebanon’s stability,” Hariri said.

“It has also helped to gauge the willingness of all the Lebanese to protect their country from the regional fire that surrounds them.”

The premier noted that there were certain steps to be taken now that the different groups represented in the Cabinet endorsed a dissociation policy. These include maintaining strong relations with Arab countries and the international community on the basis of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.

“The stability of Lebanon may seem like a small miracle given the many conflicts that destabilize the region. It is maintained at the price of sacrifices, dialogues and compromises,” Hariri said.

While praising the sacrifices made by the Army and security agencies, Hariri also focused on the important role that the Central Bank has been playing in ensuring the banking sector’s safety.

“The Central Bank and the entire Lebanese banking sector continue to ensure full compliance with international laws and rules and the best banking practices,” the premier said, alluding to accusations that Lebanese banks have been used to launder funds for Hezbollah, particularly made by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

“This is important because the stability of our banking sector is an important condition for the stability of Lebanon and its economy.”

The situation in Lebanon and the region as well bilateral relations were at the core of the discussions Hariri held with Tillerson in the presence of Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and Hariri’s chief of staff, Nader Hariri.

Earlier, a statement from the U.S. State Department said Tillerson’s attendance at the meeting reflected the U.S.’ strong support for Lebanon.

Tillerson, the statement added, was going to re-emphasize the U.S.’ ongoing commitment to the Army, while encouraging the Lebanese government and other nations to move more aggressively to limit Hezbollah’s “destabilizing activity in the region.”

The ISG meeting was concluded with a joint news conference by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Hariri and Mohammed, in which Le Drian announced that the Paris IV donor conference will be held in March.

“This meeting made it possible to take new initiatives in favor of Lebanon. I am thinking in particular of the two support conferences,” Le Drian said. “One will aim to support investment in Lebanon, with the valuable commitment of Germany. ... The other will be devoted to the means of the Army and security structures in Lebanon with the Italian initiative.”