Ban for Quick Formation of Lebanese Cabinet
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the Lebanese should quickly form a new government, adding that it is up to them to decide what kind of democratic models they will establish.
Ban told a press conference in New York that he strongly encouraged President Michel Suleiman, Premier Fouad Saniora and MP Saad Hariri to form a government "as soon as possible."
"I am going to closely monitor and discuss this matter and coordinate not only with the Lebanese political leaders, but also other key leaders," Ban said.
He told reporters that his consistent policy and stance on the situation in Lebanon has been "democratization, peace and stability."
"I am very much encouraged by the election results, which have been largely free from violence. It means that the Lebanese government and people have (taken) a step forward towards mature democracy and better security and stability," he said.
Asked by An Nahar daily”s correspondent, what models and lessons should the Arab world and other countries in the region learn from the Lebanese experience, Ban said: "What we can learn from Lebanon is that when the political leaders of a country cooperate with a sense of understanding and flexibility … then we would be able to reduce the differences of opinions and we will see peace and stability quicker."
It "is up to the people, what kind of model they will establish, they will form. That is up to the people to decide in Lebanon," the U.N. chief stressed.
Turning to another front, Ban said that the Middle East diplomatic Quartet is tentatively set to meet in Italy later this month.
"I look forward to the next meeting of the Quartet, tentatively scheduled for later this month in Italy," he told the press conference.
Diplomats said the meeting of the Quartet — the European Union, the United Nations, Russia and the United States — was likely to take place on the sidelines of a G8 ministerial session on Pakistan and Afghanistan scheduled for June 25-27 in Trieste.
"There is encouraging momentum on which to build," Ban added, referring to U.S. President Barack Obama”s Cairo speech on relations with the Islamic world last week.
"President Obama”s address in Cairo has lent new momentum to the peace process," the U.N. chief said. "The rights of both peoples, Palestinians and Israelis, to self-determination, statehood and security are the basis of any policy going forward."