Lebanon: The United Nations welcomes the appointment of Nawaf Salam to form the government

It is noteworthy that Nawaf Salam served as Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations at its headquarters in New York between July 2007 and December 2017, before being elected to become a judge in the United Nations. International Court of Justice On February 6, 2018.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said – in his daily press conference – that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres telephoned Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday, where he congratulated him on his election, and also spoke with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Dujarric stated that the Secretary-General will travel to Lebanon later this week on a visit of solidarity with Lebanon and its people. In Beirut, Guterres is scheduled to meet with the political leadership and other figures. He is also expected to go to southern Lebanon to visit the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)UNIFIL) and expressing its support and thanks for the work of its members under very difficult circumstances.

Consultations in the Security Council on Lebanon

On the other hand, the UN Security Council held closed consultations on Lebanon, proposed by France and held by Algeria, in its capacity as the rotating president of the Council. During the consultations, members heard two testimonies from the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

Hennis-Plasschaert reviewed the positive developments that Lebanon has witnessed in recent weeks. She welcomed the election of General Joseph Aoun as the new president of Lebanon and expressed her hope that this would constitute “the launch that Lebanon desperately needs to strengthen institutions and implement vital reforms.”

She noted that the level of violence had decreased significantly following the entry into force of the cessation of hostilities on November 27, noting that some progress had been achieved with regard to Israel’s withdrawal and the redeployment of the Lebanese army in the south of the country, while stressing the need to make further efforts in this area. .

She stressed that with two-thirds of the 60-day period having passed, “we are now entering the final stage, which is the most important,” and called on all parties to invest the available time effectively and reach a clear and common understanding about the current situation and how to manage expectations.

And reminding her that failure to implement Security Council Resolution No. 1701 It only led to a new cycle of violence and destruction. The Special Coordinator stressed the need to also look beyond the 60-day period, to begin in-depth discussions on “ways to implement the decision this time on both sides of the Blue Line, and in Lebanon, beyond both banks of the Litani River.”

In light of the continuing urgent humanitarian needs, the Special Coordinator stressed that the flash humanitarian appeal, which has been extended to cover the period from January to March 2025, requires “significant and urgent support.” She also expressed her hope that the election of the new president would contribute to accelerating the flow of resources necessary for recovery and reconstruction “immediately to Lebanon.”