U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said that he was optimistic about the future of Lebanon and urged the international community to encourage "development of political maturity" in the country.
"All the developments … in Lebanon have been encouraging, and the whole international community, including myself as United Nations secretary-general, should support and encourage such ongoing development of political maturity," Ban told reporters in New York before heading to Sharm el-Sheikh to attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit there.
Ban also said that the Lebanese national unity cabinet should be quickly formed.
"The national government should be formed as soon as possible with all the parties participating there. This is what I have been discussing with the Lebanese leaders. And I am optimistic about the future of Lebanon," Ban said in response to a question.