USG Ladsous meets Lebanese leaders in Beirut

(left to right) UNIFIL Head of Mission/Force Commander Maj-General Paolo Serra; UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Mr. Derek Plumbly; UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Mr. Herve Ladsous and President of the Republic of Lebanon Michel Sleiman.

(left to right) UNIFIL Head of Mission/Force Commander Maj-General Paolo Serra; UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Mr. Derek Plumbly; UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Mr. Herve Ladsous and the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Mr. Herve Ladsous making a statement after the meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Mr. Herve Ladsous meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

(left to right) UNIFIL Head of Mission/Force Commander Maj-General Paolo Serra; UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Mr. Derek Plumbly; UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Mr. Herve Ladsous and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

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14 May 2013

USG Ladsous meets Lebanese leaders in Beirut

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous today called on the President of Lebanon Michel Suleiman, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut. He also met the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Jean Kahwaji and other senior LAF officers.

Discussions in the meetings were particularly focused on the situation in UNIFIL's area of operations and the cooperation between UNIFIL and the LAF in southern Lebanon.

Following the meetings, Mr. Ladsous said: "I was very encouraged by the reaffirmation by all the leaders of their commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1701and their strong words of support for UNIFIL."

He added: "We in the United Nations place the utmost importance on security and stability in Lebanon, particularly during these extremely turbulent times. I assured my interlocutors of our complete support and engagement at every level, whether in UNIFIL or at the UN headquarters, to bolster the efforts of the Lebanese leadership to safeguard Lebanon from the negative impact of regional developments."

"The calm along the Blue Line is testimony to the strong strategic partnership between UNIFIL and the LAF, which continues to deliver under testing circumstances. I had the opportunity to see on the ground how the two Forces are working together and I was very impressed by their resolve and unflinching commitment to resolution 1701," Mr. Ladsous said at the end of his five-day trip to the region.

Mr Ladsous underlined the need for both parties to continue working with UNIFIL to address issues of concern and prevent any escalation along the Blue Line.