UN Official: United Nations Still Capable of Playing a Role in Restoring Stability to Lebanon
Deputy Secretary-General reaffirms support for Lebanon's stability and restoration of its sovereignty.
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Beirut, October 14 (KUNA) -- Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix reaffirmed on Wednesday that the United Nations’ objective is to support efforts aimed at restoring stability to Lebanon and the region, and to restore Lebanon’s full sovereignty, noting that the UN “remains capable of playing a role in this framework.”
Lebanese presidency sources quoted Lacroix as saying, following talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, that the meeting “takes place at a critical moment, as the ground situation in the south remains complex amid ongoing military activities and their severe impact on the population.”
He added, “Regarding the future of the UN presence, I believe that discussions in the Security Council will now commence, and it is important, indeed essential, for Lebanon’s voice to be heard in this regard, given that it is the state directly concerned by this issue.”
He pointed out that “UN Secretary-General António Guterres has presented the Security Council with a number of options regarding the possibility of maintaining a UN presence after the expiration of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). These options were prepared based on what we have heard from Lebanese authorities.”
He said, “We believe that at this stage it is important to actively follow the discussions underway in the Security Council and to reach the best outcome for Lebanon and for the prospects of achieving stability.”
He added, “We are aware of Lebanon’s position, including the content of the letter it addressed to the United Nations, in which it requested an extension of UNIFIL’s mandate for a temporary period.”
He continued, “It is natural to listen to the positions of Lebanese authorities and to take them into account, as this concerns the Lebanese state, Lebanon’s security, and the restoration of its full sovereignty. We must also take into account the necessity that this step ultimately contribute to enhancing security in the region.”
Last August, the UN Security Council unanimously extended UNIFIL’s mandate for the last time until December 31, 2026, and agreed that its drawdown and orderly, safe withdrawal should begin from that date and be completed within one year. (End) A.Y.B./T.M.A.
