UN Security Council discusses situation in Lebanon, to issue presidential statement soon

Sources told LBCI that the press statement that was expected to be issued by the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday regarding the Lebanese presidential elections has now turned into a soon to be released statement.

The sources added that the presidential statement is of greater legal value than press statements, but requires longer deliberations.

In this regard, according to a UN diplomat, the presidential statement is considered an official document issued by the Security Council, noting that the presidential statement on Lebanon will be used as a reference during discussions over the country’s internal situation, just like the statement that was issued on July 10th, 2013 and which calls for adopting the disassociation policy.

The same sources told LBCI that the new statement to be issued later this week will call for electing a new president as soon as possible and will express support for the new government that will pursue its work until a new president is elected.

“The statement will also call on the Lebanese authorities to cooperate with the International Community, mainly the International Support Group for Lebanon that aims at assisting Lebanon in its economic, security and humanitarian challenges,” the sources stated.

The statement will recall the disassociation policy while stressing the need to implement the UN resolution 1701, in order to maintain Lebanon’s stability and integrity.