Ban Ki-moon Calls on Lebanese Cabinet to End War
New York, Nov 9 2009
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged Lebanon’s new national unity government to fully implement the Security Council resolution that ended the war between Israel and Hizbollah three years ago.
That
resolution called for an end to hostilities between Israel
and Hizbollah militants, respect for the so-called Blue Line
separating the Israeli and Lebanese sides, disarming of
militias and an end to arms smuggling.
Hizbollah, which has not disarmed, is part of the new
unity government.
Mr. Ban said in a (http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2009/542)
report to the Council last month that disbanding militias,
especially Hizbollah, was “of vital importance” to
Lebanon’s democracy and sovereignty.
In a (http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4217)
statement issued today by his spokesperson, he voiced
satisfaction that, five months after elections, Lebanese
political leaders had been able to agree on the new cabinet.
“The Secretary-General hopes that Lebanese political
leaders will continue to work together in a spirit of unity,
dialogue and cooperation,” the statement said.
Mr. Ban urged the new Government to quickly take up
the challenges that remain to consolidate both the
sovereignty of Lebanon and the institutional capacity of the
Lebanese state, as called for in several accords and
Security Council resolutions.
The UN played a role
in trying to bridge the gap between the parties to a unity
government with Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael
Williams meeting with the various factions. On Friday he
conferred with Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker of the
Parliament Nabih
Berri.
ENDS