Miqati to Ban: We Need International Support to Force Israel to Halt Violations against Lebanon

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Saturday that the United Nations and international community’s support for Lebanon represent a central step in establishing peace and stability in the country.

He during a dinner thrown in visiting U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon’s honor: “We need the international community’s support in forcing Israel to halt its violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and implement international resolutions.”

He noted that Lebanon is seeking to exploit its offshore oil and gas wealth, which therefore requires the United Nations to pressure Israel to halt violations.

“Our unity forces the Jewish state to implement U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which Lebanon has vowed to respect and implement in full,” added the premier.

For his part, Ban described as “excellent” his meetings with various Lebanese officials.

He said that they addressed the strong ties between Lebanon and the U.N., as well as joint efforts to maintain peace and stability and implement all international resolutions.

The United Nations is fully committed to Lebanon, he continued.

He said that his visit to the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon headquarters in the South has bolstered his view that the international organization is contributing to stability in the region.

The U.N. will do all it can to meet the legitimate expectations of the people in the region, Ban stressed.

It will also continue on pushing for fair, permanent, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, he stated.

A number of political, religious, military, and diplomatic figures were present at the dinner banquet that was held at the Grand Serail, including former Premiers Fouad Saniora and Salim al-Hoss and Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel.