U.N. Political Chief Hails “Landmark” Deal to Set up Beirut-Damascus Diplomatic Ties
The senior United Nations political official has hailed the "landmark agreement" to establish diplomatic relations between Beirut and Damascus, but said more efforts should be exerted to build on progress in Lebanon.
Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Security Council on Wednesday that Lebanon and Syria on Oct. 16 signed a landmark agreement towards the establishment of diplomatic ties.
In what Pascoe described another milestone, the Lebanese parliament passed a new electoral law, as agreed in Doha.
He called for increased talks between Israel and Syria as well as stepped-up efforts to build on recent developments in Lebanon.
Pascoe mentioned the ongoing security incidents in the northern port city of Tripoli and said alleged members of a terrorist cell, believed to be affiliated with Fatah-al-Islam, were arrested on Oct. 12 by Lebanese security forces.
The situation in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remained tense but generally quiet, and Israeli air violations continued at an average of 10 per day, Pascoe told the Security Council.
Michael Williams, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, began work as of 1 October, he added.
Although Pascoe mentioned in his briefing last month”s car bomb blast in Damascus which reportedly killed 17 civilians and injured over a dozen others, he didn”t bring up the issue of Syrian troops deployment along Lebanon”s northern border.
In a move he characterized as a "welcome development," the first phase of rubble removal began on Oct. 17 one year after fighting in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon ended.
He said funding was urgently required to meet reconstruction costs and the humanitarian needs of the displaced.