Plasschaert says Blue Line developments of particular concern as she begins Lebanon mission
The newly-appointed U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert held her first meeting in Lebanon on Monday.
“It is a great privilege to have arrived in Beirut in my new capacity as U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon. I am extremely honored to have met with His Excellency, caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, to mark the beginning of my first round of consultations with Lebanese officials,” she said after the meeting.
“I welcomed the opportunity to touch upon some of the key issues and priorities that I will be following closely, including in cooperation with the Lebanese authorities, other partners in Lebanon and the wider international community,” Hennis-Plasschaert added.
“While Lebanon faces challenges on many levels, developments across the Blue Line are of particular concern. Today, we discussed the urgency for the parties to return to the cessation of hostilities and to recommit to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 to ensure their enduring mutual security,” the U.N. coordinator went on to say.
She added that tn the coming months she will be closely engaged with both parties to Resolution 1701, UNIFIL and other Lebanese and international partners to help “galvanize momentum towards this end.”
“We also discussed Lebanon’s protracted political deadlock and the need for the election of a new president and fully functional State institutions to lead the country out of crisis and towards sustainable recovery,” Hennis-Plasschaert said.
“While there will be future opportunities to discuss further all of these issues and priorities, I am very encouraged by our initial discussions today that will guide our way forward,” she added.
“The U.N. has a long history of working with and supporting Lebanon as a trusted partner. I assured the Foreign Minister of my steadfast commitment and that of the United Nations to continue supporting Lebanon and its people,” Hennis-Plasschaert said.
