The UN Security Council on Thursday declared
its strong support for the agreement reached this week by Lebanese parties to
end 18 months of political impasse.
The council said in a statement read in an open meeting by British Ambassador
John Sawers, the council president, that the agreement reached on Wednesday in Doha "constitutes an essential step towards the resolution of the current crisis, the
return to the normal functioning of Lebanese democratic institutions and the
complete restoration of Lebanon's unity, stability and independence."
It welcomed "the ban on the use of weapons and violence as a means to
settle disputes, irrespective of their nature and under any
circumstances."
The agreement by the Lebanese parties was intended to break the impasse on the
election of the president of Lebanon, a post that has been left vacant since
November when then President Emile Lahout stepped down as his term had already
expired.
The statement called on the Lebanese parties to implement the agreement worked
out with the help of the League of Arab States in accordance with previous
agreements and UN resolutions.
It reaffirmed Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
On Wednesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised the agreement and voiced
the hope that the agreement will be "the prelude to a lasting period of
national reconciliation, political stability, peace and progress for all of Lebanon's people and for the future of their country."
He said the UN looks forward to the early election of a new Lebanese president
and the formation of a National Unity Government.
He thanked the "crucial efforts" of Qatar and the League of Arab
States for helping the Lebanese reach the settlement, dpa reported.