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Lebanon: UN envoy holds talks with Government minister

Lebanon: UN envoy holds talks with Government minister

Observation tower near the Blue Line on the border between Lebanon and Israel.
The top United Nations envoy to Lebanon met today with a senior Government minister as he continues his efforts to promote stability and dialogue within the Middle East country.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams held talks with Lebanese Interior Minister Ziad Baroud on a range of issues, including regional developments, the domestic situation in Lebanon, and progress on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizbollah.

Resolution 1701 calls for respect of 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.

In a statement issued by his office, Mr. Williams welcomed the calls by Lebanon’s President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri for continued calm and stability, and particularly during the last session of the National Dialogue process.

He commended, in particular, the contributions by Mr. Baroud and the Interior Ministry to the overall security and stability that currently prevail in the country.

“In our meeting today, I also welcomed the recent measures taken by Parliament, under the leadership of Speaker [Nabih] Berri, to ratify the Oslo Convention on cluster munitions, as well as legislation related to the civil rights of Palestinians, and to legislation with regard to possible oil and gas deposits,” Mr. Williams added.

“I strongly believe that in Lebanon, as in all countries, institutions are vitally important; and it has been quite impressive in recent weeks to see the work of the institutions, of the Presidency, of the Prime Minister’s office, of the Ministry of Interior, of the National Dialogue process, working in harmony to reduce tensions and to sustain calm and stability in the country,” he said.