Statement of the International Support Group for Lebanon (11 February 2022)

The International Support Group for Lebanon (ISG) met in Beirut today to review preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Echoing the Security Council press statement on Lebanon of 4 February 2022, and recalling its previous statements, the ISG reiterated its call for free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections, as scheduled on 15 May 2022.

The ISG noted that while the international community was deeply committed to and had provided significant financial, material, technical and political support to Lebanon's electoral process, the elections are first and foremost a right and expectation of the people of Lebanon and a sovereign responsibility which is incumbent on the authorities to deliver on.

With the elections just three months away, the ISG urged expeditious preparatory work respecting the existing legislative framework and the constitutional timelines. The ISG called on the authorities to promptly make available all the necessary resources and intensify technical and administrative preparations to ensure the timeliness and integrity of the electoral process.

Specifically, the ISG urged relevant bodies to allocate the necessary financial resources to hold the elections in Lebanon and abroad, enable the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities and the Supervisory Commission for Elections to be fully functional, and ensure timely organization for the conduct of the diaspora voting.

The ISG called on all political actors to engage responsibly and constructively in the electoral process, preserve calm and commit to peaceful elections for the benefit of the country and all the Lebanese people. The ISG also called on all political stakeholders to take every possible step to encourage and ensure the inclusion of women candidates on their electoral lists and strengthen women's political representation and participation across the board.

The ISG continues to stand by Lebanon and its people.

Note to Editors

The International Support Group has brought together the United Nations and the governments of China, France, Germany, Italy, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the European Union and the Arab League.  It was launched in September 2013 by the UN Secretary-General with former President Michel Sleiman to help mobilize support and assistance for Lebanon's stability, sovereignty and state institutions.

Security Council Press Statement on Lebanon

SC/14786

4 FEBRUARY 2022

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Vassily A. Nebenzia (Russian Federation):

The members of the Security Council took note positively of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon on 24 January and stressed the need for the swift resumption of its regular meetings.

As the Lebanese population is facing dire needs and has expressed legitimate aspirations for reforms, elections and justice, the members of the Security Council urged expeditious and effective decisions by the Government to initiate measures, including the swift adoption of an appropriate budget for 2022 that would enable the quick conclusion of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  Moreover, they reiterated with urgency the need to implement previously outlined, tangible reforms which are necessary to help the Lebanese population.  They also underlined the importance of delivering those reforms in order to ensure effective international support.

The members of the Security Council underlined the importance of holding free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections as scheduled on 15 May 2022, ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of women as candidates and voters in the election, and called on the Government of Lebanon to enable the Supervisory Commission for Elections to carry out its mandate, notably by providing it with adequate resources and initiating the process of nominating candidates.

They deplored the incidents that took place on 22 December 2021, 4, 13 and 25 January in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)'s area of operations and recalled the necessity for all parties to ensure that UNIFIL personnel are safe and secure and their freedom of movement is fully respected and unimpeded.  The members of the Security Council called on the Lebanese authorities to investigate all attacks against UNIFIL and its personnel and bring to justice the perpetrators of those incidents in accordance with the Lebanese law and consistent with Security Council resolution 2589 (2021).

They stressed once again the need for a swift, independent, impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation into the explosions which struck Beirut on 4 August 2020.

Moreover, the members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong support for the stability, security, territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon, consistent with Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1680 (2006), 1559 (2004), and 2591 (2021), 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.