8 Feb2019

UN SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES FORMATION OF LEBANON GOVERNMENT

Security Council Press Statement on Lebanon

8 February 2019

The members of the Security Council welcomed the announcement on 31 January 2019 of the formation of a national unity government in Lebanon, and congratulated Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his Cabinet. They welcomed the nomination of four women in the new governmentincluding as Interior Minister for the first time in Lebanon's history, and encouraged the Lebanese authorities to further pursue efforts in ensuring the full and effective participation of women in Lebanese politics.

They encouraged all of Lebanon's political leaders to build on this momentum of national unity and to ensure Lebanon's effective ability to address the pressing security, economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing the country.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong support for the stability, security, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1680 (2006), 1559 (2004), and 2433 (2018) as well as other relevant Security Council resolutions and statements of the President of the Security Council on the situation in Lebanon.

The members of the Security Council called upon all Lebanese parties to implement a tangible policy of disassociation from any external conflicts, as an important priority, as spelled out in previous declarations, in particular the 2012 Baabda Declaration. They recalled the importance of implementing relevant UNSC resolutions and previous commitments which require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon so that there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than those of the Lebanese State and called on all Lebanese parties to swiftly resume discussions towards a consensus on a National Defense Strategy. They recalled that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are the only legitimate armed forces of Lebanon, as enshrined in the Lebanese constitution and in the Taif Agreement.

The members of the Security Council insisted on the urgency of the engagement of the new cabinet in the commitments made during the International Support Group for Lebanon, Rome II and CEDRE conferences, stressing the importance for the new government to implement structural and sectoral reform measures that would enhance investments in Lebanon's vital infrastructure and services, consistent with the agenda set out during the CEDRE conference.The Security Council also encourages the Lebanese government to uphold their commitment, as expressed at the CEDRE conference, to fight corruption, and to strengthen governance and accountability, which includes public finance management.

The members of the Security Council called on the international community, including international organizations, to ensure continued support to Lebanon in addressing the security, economic and humanitarian challenges facing the country. 

 

UN chief welcomes new Government in Lebanon, after eight-month impasse

1 February 201

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed, on Friday, the announcement of a new Government in Lebanon; the result of eight months of negotiation, following general elections last May.

He congratulated Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Lebanon's political leadership, saying that he looks forward "to working closely with the new Government to continue to address urgent political, security, humanitarian and economic challenges, including in the follow-up to the international conferences of support to Lebanon, held last year".

Lebanon is governed by a complex power-sharing system aimed at representing all its religious and political communities. The new 30-member cabinet has four women, including the interior minister, which is a first for Lebanon.

According to news reports, Mr. Hariri's new government is a balanced composition of Lebanon's rival factions. The most pressing challenge for the cabinet is to revive the country's economy and cut the national debt, which stands at about 150 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Mr. Guterres reiterated the UN's commitment to "support Lebanon in strengthening its sovereignty, stability and political independence in accordance with the Taif Accord and the Baabda Declaration", and its effective implementation of Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1559 (2004) and other relevant resolutions that remain essential "to the stability of Lebanon and the region".