UN Chief: Syria should stop violent incursions and raids into Lebanon

U.N. Chief Ban Ki-Moon urged the Syrian government to halt “the violent incursions and raids into Lebanese towns and villages” and to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty in line with U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680 and 1701.    

Ban added in his 17th report on the implementation of Resolution 1701 that “these incursions could ignite further tensions inside Lebanon and beyond.”    

Ban called on the Lebanese government to carry out “a proper border control” in order to block arms smuggling, slamming the cabinet over its failure to live up to promises to control borders.   

Ban voiced fear over increasing security incidents in Lebanon “which underscores the threat posed by undisciplined armed groups and the continued arms smuggling into the country.”     

“Hezbollah and other extrastatal armed groups pose a threat to Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability and hinder the implementation of Resolutions 1559 and 1701,” he elaborated.
   
Ban called on Lebanese President Michel Sleiman to resume National Dialogue to “address the issue of armed groups’ arms as soon as possible, leading to disarmament.”