Pederson: Berri was Instrumental to UNSCR 1701

U.N. Secretary General Personal Representative Gere Pederson said Monday Lebanon should remain calm and stable in the coming weeks.

 

Pederson, told reporters that parliament Speaker Nabih Berri “informed me of the latest developments regarding the presidential issue and we agreed that it is important to maintain calm and stability in the coming days and weeks.”

 

Pederson made a farewell call on Berri after concluding his mission in Lebanon.

 

He paid tribute to the parliament speaker who had played an “instrumental role in discussions that led to the adoption of UNSCR 1701.”

 

“We”ve spent time discussing implementation of this resolution and I”ve informed him of our hope to see more progress” regarding implementation of the resolution that ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah in the summer of 2006.

 

“We hope that it would not be restricted to just halting hostilities and would develop into a cease-fire,” Pederson added.

 

However, he noted that “south Lebanon has had 18 months of calm, which it had not enjoyed since 1978.”