UN Security Council voices “deepest concern over vacancy in presidency"

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed on Wednesday their strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.

The members of the United Nations Security Council voiced on Wednesday their deepest concern over the two year-long vacancy in the presidency of Lebanon since the expiration of the mandate of former President Michel Sleiman on 24 May 2014.

The members of the Security Council underlined “in the strongest possible terms their concern over this prolonged vacancy, which has led to blockages in the Council of Ministers, and rendered the Parliament incapable of passing critical legislation.”

The members of the Security Council also noted the vacancy and the resulting political paralysis seriously impair Lebanon’s ability to address the growing security, economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing the country.

The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern at Parliament’s repeated inability to form a quorum and elect a new President, and they reaffirmed their call on all Lebanese leaders to act responsibly and with leadership and flexibility to convene urgently a parliamentary session and proceed to the election of a President.

They also commended the Government of Lebanon for the timely holding of municipal elections and further encouraged the Lebanese authorities to move ahead within the set calendar for the next legislative polls.

The members of the Security Council expressed their appreciation for the International Support Group for Lebanon and urged the Group to continue its work in coordination with the Special Coordinator to seek opportunities to help address rising challenges to Lebanon’s security and stability.

They welcomed in this regard the suggestion made by the President of France on 16 April 2016 in Beirut, Lebanon, to organize a ministerial meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon.

The members of the Security Council underscored their call on all Lebanese parties to recommit to Lebanon’s policy of dissociation and to cease any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with their commitment in the Ministerial declaration of the current Government and in the Baabda Declaration of 12 June 2012.