We have just had an excellent meeting with Prime Minister Tamam Salam.
I have been away but I rang Mr. Salam on Saturday to congratulate him very warmly on the formation of his new government, as of course did the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. This morning, UNIFIL Force Commander Gen. Paolo Serra, Deputy Special Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Ross Mountain and I, congratulated him in person and pledged the support of the whole United Nations family in Lebanon to his efforts and those of his ministers
We discussed the many areas in which the United Nations and the Government of Lebanon cooperate closely, in the first instance of course in the implementation of resolution 1701 but also in addressing the humanitarian challenges the country faces, particularly on the issue of the Syrian refugees, and our efforts to mobilize international support for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty and state institutions. Gen. Serra and I briefed in particular on efforts to secure assistance for the Lebanese Armed Forces, the first meeting of the coordination mechanism for which will be held later this morning.
Finally, of course, we extended our condolences for the victims of yesterday’s bombing in Bir Hassan and reiterated the UN’s strong condemnation of such indiscriminate terrorist actions. The formation of a new inclusive government under Prime Minister Salam’s leadership seems to me to send the strongest possible message from all of the country’s political parties that such terrorism is rejected.