Security Council Briefed on Situation in Lebanon
The United Nations” Mideast envoy has hailed the launch of the first national dialogue session at Baabda Palace but said the security situation remains unstable in Lebanon.
The U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) Robert Serry also told the Security Council on Thursday that Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace continue on a daily basis.
"In Lebanon, where some security incidents had occurred, efforts to establish dialogue had continued," he said.
While praising the dialogue launched on Tuesday and reconciliation reached last week in the northern port city of Tripoli, Serry said: "Despite those positive developments, the security situation remained precarious. Army First Lieutenant Samer Hanna had been killed on 28 August, and on 10 September, a member of the Lebanese Democratic Party, Saleh Aridi, had been killed by an explosion."
Serry also cited clashes in the Bekaa valley and renewed fighting in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh.
"The situation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon”s (UNIFIL) area of operations remained generally quiet, but Israel”s air violations continued on a daily basis," he said.
On negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Serry said the peace talks are at crossroads 10 months after their leaders agreed to try to reach an accord this year.
Both sides need to step up their efforts to meet that goal, he said.
"While there are some positive developments, there are also several factors that cause concern," Serry told the Security Council. "The important period ahead must see decisive advances towards peace."
On the Gaza Strip, Serry reported that the humanitarian situation remained "extremely grim" given the continued Israeli closures, with imports decreasing by 21 per cent over the past month and U.N. priority projects stalled by the shortfall in materials.