Informal comments to the media by H.E Mr. Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations and the President of the Security Council for the month of July, on the situation in Lebanon, Ethiopia, Eritrea and other matters

“The Security Council had consultations this morning. We had a briefing on the situation in Lebanon and developments relating to Resolution 1701 by UNIFIL and by Acting (UN) Special Coordinator Pernille Kardel and Under-Secretary General Jean-Pierre Lacroix. The members of the security council expressed support to the activities of UNSCOL and UNIFIL in carrying out their mandate. The members of the Security Council expressed their hope that a new government of national unity will be formed swiftly in Lebanon and look forward to the upcoming mandate renewal of UNIFIL, and the members of the Security Council expressed their commitment to follow closely the situation in Lebanon, including the implementation of Resolution 1701.”

Question: “I want to ask you about Lebanon, we saw that there was the annex with the report on 1701 that touched on the restriction of movement in UNIFIL area. So did the council members discuss these restrictions, this situation on the ground, especially what’s related to the NGO that’s called Green Without Borders?”

SC President: “Yes, there was a very detailed and full briefing by the Under-Secretary General of Peacekeeping Operations as to the activities under the mandate of UNIFIL, and the issues that you’ve just mentioned were of course addressed, as they are in the Secretary General’s report.”

Question: “Is there any more detail on the council members reactions on this news?”

SC President: “No, I wouldn’t want to say that. I mean now we were… we want to look at the discussion we’re going to have in August as we renew the mandate of UNIFIL, and that is when I think those aspects will be touched upon next.”

For the full link to the video of the statement, please click here: https://bit.ly/2Lz38Td