Ban in Beirut in January to Discuss STL, Resolution 1701
U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon is set to visit Beirut in January as part of his tour to the region - his third trip to Lebanon, a source in New York told An Nahar newspaper.
Contacts are underway between Lebanese authorities and the U.N. Secretariat to set the date for his visit either on the first or the second week of January, the sources said.
Ban last visited Lebanon in January 2009. His first trip was in March 2007.
The source said the secretary-general would for the first time tour southern Lebanon and inspect U.N. peacekeepers stationed there.
His talks with Lebanese officials would focus on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as he is expected to express his relief over the payment of Lebanon’s share to the court in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1757.
Ban is also expected to discuss with the officials in Beirut the implementation of Resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah.
His talks with the Lebanese leaders would also be an occasion for Ban to urge them to resort to the National Dialogue table to resolve their differences and discuss the country’s defense strategy, the source said.
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