Watkins, al-Rahi Agree on 'Importance of Asserting State Authority'

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon ad interim Robert Watkins said Tuesday he agreed with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi during talks in Bkirki on “the importance of asserting state authority throughout all of Lebanon’s territory and of taking measures to safeguard the stability and security of the country.”

“In this regard, I briefed the Patriarch on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and the Secretary-General’s recent report. We are naturally disconcerted by the rising number of incidents, two rocket firing incidents in the period of two weeks and yet another attack on UNIFIL troops, which the Secretary-General and the Security Council have condemned in the strongest terms,” Watkins added.

“We hope that calm and stability will return now to south Lebanon so we can continue our work to advance the full implementation of resolution 1701,” he went on to say.

Watkins said the United Nations “welcomes the summit of Christian leaders that the Patriarch is expected to host here at Bkirki this coming Friday,” praising the role “that the Patriarch has played in trying to promote dialogue to keep the channels of communications open and to avoid tension.”

“We hope agreements reached at the meeting will work in favor of unity, security and stability in Lebanon,” the U.N. official added.

Lebanon’s top Maronite leaders are expected to discuss the repercussions of the region’s upheaval on Lebanon in a meeting scheduled to be held in Bkirki on Friday, An Nahar daily reported Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, the dangerous situation in southern Lebanon would be at the top of issues to be discussed by Phalange leader Amin Gemayel, Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Marada movement’s head Suleiman Franjieh.

Several Maronite MPs and bishops will also attend the meeting that will be headed by Patriarch al-Rahi, it said.

The conferees will discuss the revolutions in the Arab world, mainly the Syrian crisis, and their effects on Lebanon, An Nahar added.