Security Council Urges Lebanese Officials to 'Act Responsibly,' and Elect a President
The U.N. Security Council has reiterated its call on Lebanon's rival politicians to elect a president and appealed for more support from the international community for the Lebanese army and police.
“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,” they said in a statement issued on Thursday,
The Council expressed concern over the parliament’s failure to elect a president following a lack of quorum and reaffirmed its call on all Lebanese officials “to act responsibly and with leadership and flexibility to urgently convene a parliamentary session and proceed to the election” of a head of state.
The members of the Council called on “all Lebanese leaders to adhere to Lebanon's Constitution and to the Taef Agreement and National Pact, to put Lebanon's stability and national interests ahead of partisan politics.”
They also urged all parties to facilitate the functioning of public institutions.
The statement was issued a day after they were briefed by U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and by Dimitry Titov, the assistant secretary-general for the rule of law in the department of peacekeeping operations.
Lebanon has been without a head of state since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.
The Council also appealed for international support for Lebanon’s army and security forces.
It underscored the crucial role played by them in extending the authority of the state and supporting the country’s stability.
The members of the Council reiterated their call for the continuation of international support for the army and police through additional and expedited assistance in counterterrorism and border protection.
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