|
UN concerned about reports of flow of arms into Lebanon
Friday, February 17, 2006
The United Nations Secretary General’s representative in Lebanon Mr. Gir Pederson expressed concern over reports of the flow of arms into Lebanon, following talks with head of the Future bloc in Parliament MP Saad Rafic Hariri. Mr. Pederson said discussions with MP Hariri focused on national dialogue in Lebanon and developments in the country.
The UN official told reporters in Koreitem that his meeting with MP Hariri was good and frank, pointing out that he was “reassured” after the talks, which he said focused on national dialogue, among other issues. In response to a question on whether the UN’s special representative for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559 Terje Roed-Larsen will soon visit Lebanon, Mr. Gir said the UN representative is currently preparing a report that is due in April and may visit the region before then. In response to a question on UN statements demanding clarifications over reports that arms have been flowing in Lebanon, Mr. Pederson said the UN is very concerned about this matter.
Later in Koreitem, MP Hariri separately received former Minister Fouad Boutros, and the coordinator of UN activities and resident representative of UNDP in Lebanon Dr. Mona Hammam, who reaffirmed the world body’s readiness to support activities on all levels in the country.
|