Beirut, Lebanon
Thursday, 24 November 2011
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon ad interim, Robert Watkins, met today with the President of the Lebanese Republic, H.E. General Michel Sleiman.
Mr. Watkins briefed President Sleiman on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), which was submitted to the members of the Security Council on 15 November. He welcomed the stability that has prevailed along the Blue Line in recent months and informed President Sleiman that UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe would be briefing the Security Council on the report on 29 November.
Following his discussion with President Sleiman, Mr. Watkins also met today with former Prime Minister MP Fuad Siniora to discuss the implementation of resolution 1701 and other relevant issues. “I voiced the continued expectation of the United Nations that Lebanon will continue to meet all its international obligations under resolution 1701 as well as all other relevant resolutions, including those related to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” Mr. Watkins said after the meeting. “We are following developments in that regard very closely and await the outcome of the discussions of the Lebanese government.”
Mr. Watkins has been holding a round of meetings with Lebanese officials and politicians over the past two weeks to discuss the Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 1701 and follow up on other relevant matters of concern to the United Nations.