New York, Jul 27 2010 12:10PM
Regional stability and the Security Council resolution that ended the war between Israel and Hizbollah topped today's talks between a United Nations envoy and former Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
Michael Williams, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, briefed Mr. Siniora this morning of a Council meeting earlier this month on <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2010/352">resolution 1701.
That resolution, Mr. Williams told the Council, has helped to ensure stability, but the parties must do more to meet their commitments.
"Stated commitment is good, implementation in practice is better," he told reporters following his closed-door briefing to the Council.
The envoy said after the Council meeting that he welcomed the continued commitment of all parties to the full implementation of resolution 1701, which ended the conflict that erupted in 2006, as well as calls for respect for the so-called Blue Line separating the Israeli and Lebanese sides, the disarming of all militias operating in Lebanon and an end to arms smuggling in the area.
"But I also told the Council that all parties must do far more to meet their obligations," he said, echoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's latest <"http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=s/2010/352">report on the implementation of resolution 1701, which says that a number of violations occurred during the past several months and that "no progress was recorded with regard to key obligations" under the resolution.
Also discussed between Mr. Williams and Mr. Siniora today was the deployment of another Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) brigade in south Lebanon, which the UN official said "is very welcome given the recent tensions."
UN Interim Force in Lebanon (<"http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unifil/">UNIFIL) personnel have recently been the target of protests and attacks by villagers in southern Lebanon in response to routine military exercises carried out by the mission.
Both Mr. Williams and the Council have called for ensuring the safety and freedom of movement of the peacekeepers in their area of operations, which is critical for discharging their mandate.
"We also reflected on regional efforts to try to help Lebanon and particularly to maintain stability throughout the country," the Special Coordinator said of his meeting with Mr. Siniora today.
Jul 27 2010 12:10PM
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