SCL Derek Plumbly Meets Prime Minister-designate Tamam Salam

13 Jun 2013

SCL Derek Plumbly Meets Prime Minister-designate Tamam Salam

Beirut, Lebanon
Friday, 13 June 2013
I just had a good meeting with Prime Minister-designate Tamam Salam.

The priorities of the United Nations in Lebanon are its security and stability, that it should be kept safe. A capable and effective government is important for this. That is why we encourage all parties to cooperate with the Prime Minister-designate to enable the formation of such a government as soon as possible and why we very much support the efforts of the Prime Minister-designate in that regard.

I take this opportunity to note our concern over recent events in the Bekaa, including the shelling on Hermel earlier in the week and the attack on Arsal yesterday, where there are of course local residents and also at present a high concentration of Syrian refugees. The United Nations in the past stressed and I would like to emphasize here now the importance of respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In this regard, we note the statements made by His Excellency President Sleiman and the Lebanese Armed Forces yesterday. These developments illustrate yet again the need for a government capable of addressing the many challenges which Lebanon now faces.

Thank you very much.

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