Lebanese government formation discussed as UN envoy meets Hizbollah official

The United Nations envoy for Lebanon today met with a senior official of Hizbollah to discuss the continuing impasse over the formation of a government in the Middle East country.

“I think we both agreed that it was imperative that a new government is formed as soon as possible,” said Michael Williams, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, in a statement released after his meeting with Sayyed Ammar Moussawi, the head of Hizbollah’s International Relations Department.

“There are many difficulties, economic difficulties, but we also consider for example the security problems in the region… by definition, people are strengthened when they have a government to protect them,” said Mr. Williams

Four months since his nomination as Lebanon’s prime minister-designate, consultations between Najib Mikati and the new parliamentary majority have not led to agreement on the composition of the country’s new government.

Mr. Mikati’s nomination followed the collapse of the government led by Saad Hariri after 11 Hizbollah and allied ministers resigned, reportedly over its refusal to cease cooperation with the UN-backed court investigating the 2005 assassination of Mr. Hariri’s father Rafiq and 22 others, amid reports that the tribunal was about to indict Hizbollah members for the murders

Mr. Williams described discussions with Mr. Moussawi as “very extensive” and covered many issues, including “the extremely complicated situation in the region and in the Arab world at the moment.”

Discussions also touched on the “tragedy that happened on 15 May in Maroun El-Ras,” he said, referring to the deadly incidents between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in Syria, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory amid demonstrations to mark what Palestinians call “Nakba Day.”

“I once again expressed my condolences for the many Palestinian lives that were lost on that tragic day. I believe too that because of the situation in the region and in the south, it is very important for all parties to commit to resolution 1701,” said Mr. Williams.

The terms of Security Council resolution 1701 ended a month-long war between Israel and Hizbollah in 2006. It also calls for respect for the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon, the disarming of all militias in Lebanon, and an end to arms smuggling in the area.

“I know there are different views on the implementation of 1701 and I believe that this is natural. But I still believe that 1701 has brought a stability to southern Lebanon and the people of southern Lebanon, which they did not have for many, many years before the 2006 war,” said Mr. Williams.