Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Lebanon

19 November 2013

Security Council SC/11180

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

 Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Lebanon

The following Security Council statement was issued on 19 November by Council President Liu Jieyi (China):

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on 19 November against the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 140 in the vicinity, responsibility for which has been claimed by an Al-Qaida-linked group.

The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the families of the victims and expressed their sympathy to all those injured in these heinous acts, and to the peoples and Governments of Lebanon and Iran.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The members of the Security Council recalled the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on host Governments, including under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity, and to prevent any attack on diplomatic premises, agents and consular officers.

Recalling the presidential statement of 10 July 2013, the members of the Security Council appealed to all Lebanese people to preserve national unity in the face of attempts to undermine the country's stability and stressed the importance for all Lebanese parties to respect Lebanon's policy of disassociation and to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with their commitment in the Baabda Declaration.

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For information media • not an official record