No Foreign Interference in Polls, U.N. Concerned over Spy Cells
The special advisor to the U.N. secretary-general for the Middle East has said that the international community was "interested" in the upcoming parliamentary elections due to Lebanon”s "pivotal" role in the region.
In an interview with al-Hayat daily published Sunday, Michael Williams said that a "divided Lebanon" was not in the best interest of the Arab world or the international community at large.
He said that so far "there have been no external interferences in the elections" adding that the electoral process has been running "smoothly."
Williams also downplayed "(security-related) incidences as nothing out of the ordinary in times of elections."
He said that the political leadership in the country was "aware of the need for national unity following June 7 in order to embrace Lebanon”s diversity."
He said the United Nations was "concerned" over the high number of Israeli espionage cells being uncovered in Lebanon.
"Two Lebanese staffers in UNIFIL have been arrested last Wednesday night, on suspicion (of spying for Israel)," he added. Williams said he will address the issue in his upcoming report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701.
The top U.N. official said he discussed with Hizbullah members a report presented earlier this month to the Security Council by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon over the implementation of Resolution 1559. It addressed "the continued flow of arms to Hizbullah in addition to Ban”s position regarding a standoff between Hizbullah and the Egyptian authorities."