Ban Disappointed by Lack of Progress in Lebanese Cabinet Formation
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has expressed disappointment over "lack of progress" in the formation of a national unity cabinet in Lebanon, urging the full implementation of the Doha accord which ended the country”s protracted political crisis.
The "Doha Agreement should be fully implemented. We were encouraged by the election of President (Michel) Suleiman. However, we have been very much disappointed by the lack of progress in forming a national unity government," Ban said in New York Thursday ahead of a visit to northeast Asia.
He said he was briefed by U.N. officials, who are in contact with Lebanese leaders, that the cabinet may be formed soon.
"I sincerely hope that they will be able to announce the formation of a national unity government," he said.
On the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms area, Ban said his senior cartographer has already concluded his work in the provisional delineation of the zone, "without any reference to ownership."
"This is something where we need flexibility and the political will of all the parties concerned," the U.N. chief told reporters.
When asked if the world body was willing to put the farms under its trusteeship until the ownership is decided, Ban said: "First of all, we need to discuss among the parties concerned how we can make progress on the Shebaa Farms, even before we can talk about any further options on this issue."
The Shebaa Farms area is a strip of land at the junction of southeast Lebanon, southwest Syria and northern Israel.
The Jewish state seized the farms from Syria at the same time as it captured the adjoining Golan Heights in the 1967 Middle East war. Beirut claims the territory with the consent of Damascus.