Beirut, Lebanon
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Acting United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Robert Watkins continued today a round of meetings with Lebanese interlocutors to discuss the report of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the implementation of resolution 1701 that was submitted yesterday to the United Nations Security Council. Mr. Watkins met this morning with MP Boutros Harb and later with Mr. Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces Party.
Mr. Watkins expressed concern over two explosions in Tyre early this morning. “We are very concerned of course by any kind of rupture of stability in the country and explosions of this nature are an issue of concern, particularly when they happen in the south,” Mr. Watkins said in answer to a question after meeting Mr. Geagea. Mr. Watkins said there were no indications that the explosions were targeted towards the United Nations but stressed the need to ensure the safety of all staff. “We are very sensitive both from our own security perspective and also for the security and fragility of Lebanon,” he said.
On the report on 1701, Mr. Watkins said “we are relatively pleased with the quiet and stability in the south, which in the last reporting period has been quite quiet.” But he added, “We still feel there is a lot of progress that needs to be made towards a permanent ceasefire” by both Israel and Lebanon. Mr. Watkins said his discussions today with MP Harb and Mr. Geagea also touched on the issue of border incursions and the problems of management of the border between Syria and Lebanon.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon submitted yesterday to the Security Council his seventeenth report on resolution 1701, which will be discussed at the Security Council on 29 November.
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The full text of the statement delivered by Acting Special Coordinator Robert Watkins following his meeting today with MP Boutros Harb and his press encounter after meeting Mr. Samir Geagea can be found on UNSCOL website: unscol.unmissions.org