June 13, 11

NEWS / UN envoy congratulates Lebanese premier on formation of new Government

13 June 2011 –
The United Nations envoy for Lebanon today congratulated Prime Minister Najib Mikati on the formation of a new Government after nearly five months of disagreement between the country’s various political groups, and expressed hope that the new administration will tackle Lebanon’s many challenges.

Michael Williams, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said in a statement that the new Government will “enable the country to address the manifold challenges facing the country, whether economic, political or security.”

He said he expected the Government to reiterate its support for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and its commitment to Lebanon’s international obligations.

The terms of Security Council resolution 1701 ended a month-long war between Israel and Hizbollah in 2006. It also calls for respect for the Blue Line separating Israel and Lebanon, the disarming of all militias in Lebanon, and an end to arms smuggling in the area.

Mr. Mikati’s nomination followed the collapse of the government led by Saad Hariri after 11 Hizbollah and allied ministers resigned, reportedly over its refusal to cease cooperation with the UN-backed court investigating the 2005 assassination of Mr. Hariri’s father Rafiq and 22 others, amid reports that the tribunal was about to indict Hizbollah members for the murders.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38704&Cr=lebanon&Cr1=