As Lebanon entered a period of presidential vacuum after the end of President Michel Aoun’s term on 31 October, UN Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka held a series of consultations with different partners to discuss the urgency of the situation and how best to help Lebanon out of this crisis.

In this regard, the International Support Group for Lebanon, led by the Special Coordinator, issued a statement calling on Members of Parliament to elect without delay a President who can unite the Lebanese people in the national interest. “More than ever, Lebanon needs fully functioning state institutions that can pursue comprehensive reforms with a strategic vision that generates substantive change for the public good,” the statement said.

The Special Coordinator also convened a meeting with Ambassadors of Arab countries in parallel with the Summit of the League of Arab States that was taking place in Algeria. Discussions focused on coordinating international support and messages for Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Special Coordinator met with the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Gen. Joseph Aoun, to discuss the general security situation in Lebanon.