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UN Security Council urges Lebanon to elect president without delay

Xinhua, March 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN Security Council on Thursday called on members of Lebanese parliament to convene to elect a president without further delay.

In a presidential statement released here, the council expressed its concern at the 10-month stalemate in the election of the president of the country, "which has undermined Lebanon's ability to address the security, economic and social challenges it faces and has jeopardized the normal functioning of Lebanese institutions."

In this regard, the council called on all parties to act responsibly and put Lebanon's stability and national interests ahead of partisan politics and to show "the necessary flexibility" and "sense of urgency" to apply election-related mechanisms, said the statement.

Last week, the Lebanese parliament failed for the 20th consecutive time to elect a new president due to the lack of the constitutional required quorum. Lebanon has been without a president since May 25 last year when the six year term of former President Michel Suleiman ended.

The council also noted with deep concern border violations, including the presence of terrorist and violent extremist groups in Lebanese territory and the deepening involvement of some Lebanese parties in the fighting in Syria, encouraging all parties in Lebanon to demonstrate renewed unity and determination to resist a slide into violence and conflict.

The council also called on all Lebanese parties to recommit to Lebanon's policy of disassociation and step back from any involvement in the Syrian crisis, said the statement.

In addition, expressing concern over recent violence occurred across the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon from the Israeli occupied territories, the council urged all parties to exercise maximum calm and restraint to ensure cessation of hostilities is sustained.

Relevant parties need to continue working with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to focus again on the goal of a permanent ceasefire and implement relevant Security Council resolutions, said the statement.

"The Security Council reaffirms its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon," said the statement.

UNIFIL was established in line with a UN resolution following Israel's invasion of Lebanon on March 15, 1978. Its mandate is to ensure Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore international peace and security and assist the Lebanese government in resuming its effective authority in the area. Endite