UN Chief calls for stability in Lebanon

CAIRO – 6 November 2017: United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed on Sunday the hope that all sides in Lebanon will focus on security, stability and supporting the continuity of the state’s institutions in the country.

Gutterres’s comments came following the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri on Saturday.

The UN chief’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement that the UN chief hopes that such broad support for state institutions would adhere to the constitution, and aim to safeguard the country's security and stability.

“The United Nations remains committed to supporting the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon,” the statement concluded.

On Saturday, Hariri unexpectedly offered his resignation during a televised speech from Saudi Arabia, saying that his life was in danger and he cited the “grip” of Iran on the country.

The UN works on multiple fronts in Lebanon to support a peaceful, stable and democratic future in the country. The international organization’s presence in Lebanon include the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) who serves as the secretary-general's representative to the Lebanese Government, all political parties and the diplomatic community based in the country, and works on behalf of the UN chief to assist Lebanese parties to reach peaceful and consensus based solutions to contentious issues.

Moreover, the UN has a longtime peacekeeping operation in Lebanon, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon “UNIFIL”. The UNIFIL mandate was extended in September 2017, a step that the UN chief welcomed and expressed confidence that it will have a role in supporting a peaceful political environment in Lebanon.

In the extended UNIFIL mandate, the Security Council renewed the mission with new instructions for more patrols with Lebanese forces and detailed reports when peacekeepers run into roadblocks in Hezbollah’s strongholds in southern Lebanon.