Monday, March 28, 2016

Secretary-General’s remarks at media stakeout after meeting the Lebanese Armed Forces, UNIFIL and the International Support Group

Beirut, Lebanon, 24 March 2016
Good afternoon, everyone.

First, I would like to express my deepest condolences for the death of a Lebanese soldier today in Wadi Rayan, in the outskirts of Arsal near the Syrian border.

This bomb attack underlines the importance of international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, to fight terrorism and to shield Lebanon from turmoil in the region.

I have just held fruitful and informative talks with Minister of Defense Samir Mokbel, Army Commander, Major General Jean Kahwaji and Major-General Luciano Portolano, Force Commander of UNIFIL together with the representatives of the International Support Group for Lebanon. 

The discussions focused on the security situation in Lebanon and the challenges the country faces, particularly as a result of the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

I expressed my deep admiration for the successful efforts by the Lebanese Armed Forces and security agencies to safeguard the country's security and stability, particularly in keeping Lebanon's borders safe and protecting the country from the threat of terrorism. 

We also discussed the strong cooperation between the LAF and UNIFIL in south Lebanon, including through the Strategic Dialogue process, and efforts that are underway to ensure the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701. 

The Strategic Dialogue remains crucial if the Lebanese Armed Forces are to take on greater responsibilities in UNIFIL's area of operations.

I assured the Minister and the LAF Commander that the UN and our partners in the international community will continue to give them our strong support. The Security Council emphasized this once again in its statement last week. 

We will also continue to advocate for greater support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, which we consider a truly national institution.  It is essential that the Lebanese Armed Forces get the technical and material resources they need to fulfil their vital responsibilities throughout the country.

Thank you.  Shukran.

Secretary-General’s joint press conference in Lebanon with the President of the Council of Ministers, Tammam Salam, the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, and the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Ahmad Al-Madani

Beirut, Lebanon, 24 March 2016
Mr. Prime Minister, Ladies and gentlemen of the media,
Good afternoon everyone.  Salam Aleykum,
I am very pleased to be back in Lebanon. The United Nations has a major presence here and I thank Lebanon's leaders for the support they have extended to our Organization.  
Before I talk about my visit, I would like to express my deepest condolences for the death of a Lebanese soldier today in Wadi Rayan, in the outskirts of Arsal near the Syrian border.
This bomb attack underlines the importance of international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, to fight terrorism and to shield Lebanon from turmoil in the region.
My joint visit to Lebanon with the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, and the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Ahmad Al-Madani, shows that the international community is united and ready to offer its strong support for your country.
Few countries have demonstrated the generosity that the Government and people of Lebanon have shown towards Syrian refugees. Syria's neighbours are a model for other countries and regions that have far more resources than they do. 
The recent conference in London was a good starting point for a shift in approach towards addressing the Syrian crisis in Lebanon.
But we are all concerned that increasing numbers of Syrian and Palestinian refugees are living in dire poverty and resorting to child labour and other desperate measures.
We are equally concerned by the vulnerability of Lebanese host communities, especially in the most impoverished areas.
We are here to find ways to improve conditions for refugees, to support the communities hosting them, and to help mitigate the impact on Lebanon's economy. 
We are also concerned about the political situation in Lebanon which is contributing to an atmosphere of uncertainty.
Mr. Prime Minister, I appreciate your efforts to lead your government through such difficult times.
Lebanon's President is an important symbol of unity for its people, and a symbol of pluralism in this region. It is vital that the vacuum in the presidency is filled as soon as possible, in order for Lebanon to be whole again.
The United Nations is a steadfast partner to Lebanon through the presence of the 23 agencies, funds and programmes working here, the political mission and the peacekeeping mission.
Ten years after Security Council resolution 1701, there is relative calm across the Blue Line. UNIFIL in close coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces is the backbone of this stability.
The United Nations appreciates the important role of the Lebanese Armed Forces in an atmosphere of attacks and threats from extremist groups including Daesh. I echo the Security Council's clear calls for continued international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
In all my visits to this region, I must express my concern about the continued challenges faced by Palestinian refugees and the urgent need for a political solution, based on two states living side by side in peace and security.
Thank you. Shukran.
Q: You offered your condolences to the Lebanese army after the terrorist attack today that left one soldier killed, how can you support the Lebanese army practically after the halt of the Saudi grant?
SG: First of all, I would like to commend the excellent work of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It has been a source of encouragement that UNIFIL have been working very closely with the LAF. That partnership should continue. With this, we have been able to see peace and stability along the Blue Line. This year we mark the 10th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1701. Now what happened today where this bomb attack killed near the Syrian border a Lebanese soldier and what happened earlier in January and December last year and all these kinds of terrorist acts, we have to unite and take firm action to defeat the terrorist activities.
Whatever the circumstances, whatever the justifications they may have, those are not acceptable when it comes to terrorism. Now, it is important that the world community is united to defeat terrorism and extremism. At the same time the United Nations believes that it is even more important to address the root causes of how we can address this extremism and terrorism: why these young people who are easily becoming preys of extremists or terrorists or who fall trap to those extremists.
We have to be really careful in addressing the symptoms of all this. That's why I had proposed to the General Assembly of the United Nations the plan of action to prevent violent extremism. This proposal was adopted by unanimity on February 12 by the General Assembly. It contains about 70 recommendations that Member States can take and this might not apply to all countries […]
That's what I have discussed with the Prime Minister this afternoon and I'm asking that we have to show strong commitment and unity and solidarity to fight these extremists and terrorists and also to prepare groundwork so that we can prevent this extremism.
I have been urging world leaders in addressing this extremism and terrorism that there should be a good governance. When people are feeling that there is injustice, inequality, impunity for those people then people particularly young people, they are easily disillusioned, frustrated and they become easily targets of these extremists. And therefore, I'm urging world leaders that they should lead by example and by having good governance providing good opportunities- political, social, economic - to young people and vulnerable people. This is what I'm recommending to Member States.
Thank you very much.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Security Council Press Statement on Situation in Lebanon

17 MARCH 2016
SC/12287
SECURITY COUNCIL
PRESS RELEASE

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins (Angola):

The members of the Security Council were briefed on 16 March 2016 by the Special Coordinator for Lebanon of the Secretary-General, Sigrid Kaag, on the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and by Dimitry Titov, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Rule of Law in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their deep concern over the 21-month vacancy in the presidency of Lebanon and the current political stalemate in government, which seriously impair Lebanon's ability to address the security, economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing the country.  The members of the Security Council called on all Lebanese leaders to adhere to Lebanon's Constitution and to the Taif Agreement and National Pact, to put Lebanon's stability and national interests ahead of partisan politics.  The members of the Security Council urged all parties to facilitate the functioning of State institutions and delivery of public services.  The members of the Security Council expressed concern at the Parliament's inability to elect a President following a lack of quorum and reaffirmed their call on all Lebanese leaders to act responsibly and with leadership and flexibility to urgently convene a parliamentary session and proceed to the election of a President.  The members of the Security Council commended the Government of Lebanon for setting the dates for local elections and further called on the Lebanese authorities to hold them within the set calendar.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.  They underscored the crucial role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces and security forces in extending and sustaining the authority of the State and supporting the country's stability.  The members of the Security Council reiterated in this regard their call for the continuation of international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces through additional and expedited assistance in areas where the Lebanese Armed Forces are most critically in need of support, including counterterrorism and border protection.

The members of the Security Council expressed their continuing concern at the negative impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon's stability and the immediate threat to its security.  The Security Council notes with deep concern all border violations, including the presence of terrorist and violent extremist groups in Lebanese territory, the deepening involvement of some Lebanese parties in the fighting in Syria and the risks this poses for Lebanon's stability and for the Lebanese people.  The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of Lebanon's policy of disassociation and called on all Lebanese parties to cease any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with their commitment in the ministerial declaration of the current Government and in the Baabda Declaration of 12 June 2012.

The members of the Security Council continue to be gravely concerned by the impact of hosting over 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon.  The members of the Security Council underscored that support to Lebanon's efforts to manage the impact of the influx of refugees, including on essential services, such as education and health, is crucial to preserving Lebanon's stability and security.  The members of the Security Council welcomed the pledges at the London conference of 4 February 2016, urges the international community to urgently disburse those pledges and encourages the implementation of the mutual commitments.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and renewed its call for all parties to abide scrupulously by their obligation to respect the safety of UNIFIL and other United Nations personnel.  The members of the Security Council urged all parties to make every effort to ensure that the cessation of hostilities is sustained.

The members of the Security Council expressed appreciation for the International Support Group for Lebanon and urged the Group to continue its work in coordination with the Special Coordinator to seek opportunities to help address rising challenges to Lebanon's security and stability.