Plumbly Meets Miqati, Stresses Need for All Sides to Keep Syrian Crisis Away from Lebanon

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly noted on Monday that Lebanon is honoring its humanitarian obligations towards the Syrian refugees in the country, which is “winning great credit thereby.”

He stressed again the need for all concerned to commit to keeping the Syrian crisis away from Lebanon “and to give absolute priority to keeping Lebanon safe.”

He made his remarks after holding talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati on the latest local and regional developments.

“The coordination between the government, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in addressing the needs of the refugees is close. But the numbers continue to grow and winter is approaching,” continued Plumbly on the Syrian refugees who have flocked to Lebanon to escape their country's regime crackdown against protesters.

“Against that background the government has been reviewing its arrangements and plans, which again we warmly welcome,” said the U.N. official.

For its part United Nations recently launched an updated financial appeal to address the growing needs of the refugees and host communities in Lebanon, he revealed.

“The United Nations has been clear in its condemnation of the recurrent violations of the country’s borders. We have been equally clear in our support for the efforts of the president, the prime minister and the country’s leaders collectively to distance Lebanon from the worst effects of the crisis,” he stated.

The number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has surged into more than 85,200, receiving aid through the efforts exerted by the Lebanese state and its U.N. and non-governmental organization partners, a weekly report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees recently revealed.

Plumbly also informed Miqati that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's next report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 will issue at the end of October.

Asked by reporters about the 2013 parliamentary elections in Lebanon, Plumbly replied: “We are following closely the discussions in parliament.”

“In my view, it is very important that the elections take place on time. Lebanon is a country with a long democratic history and the present period is one of spread of democracy across the Arab world,” he added.

“I am confident elections here will take place on time,” he stressed.

The rival March 8 and 14 camps are locked in a dispute over the suitable electoral law that needs to be adopted in next year's elections.

The government approved in August a law based on proportional representation and 13 electoral districts, which was rejected by the opposition and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.