The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, urged Lebanese and Israeli parties to “move toward Resolution 1701, not away from it.”
On Thursday, Joanna Wronecka and United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the Security Council on the latest report of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. The report covers the period from February 21 to June 20, 2023.
Discussions at the Security Council covered the recent tensions along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel and the need for both parties to prevent and avoid any actions that have the potential for rapid escalation, declared the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon in a statement. Wronecka echoed the appeals of Antonio Guterres “to all parties to fully implement Resolution 1701, to cease violations, and to respect the cessation of hostilities.”
Joanna Wronecka emphasized “the critical importance of resolution 1701 to the security and stability of Lebanon, Israel, and the region and of moving forward on outstanding commitments that remain for both parties.” She said, “We should move toward Resolution 1701, not away from it. The full implementation of Resolution 1701 remains our primary raison d’être.”
Overviewing the situation in Lebanon, the Special Coordinator reiterated the need for Lebanon’s political leaders to “expedite the election of a president as a starting point toward reactivating state institutions and kickstarting the recovery process.”
Despite the political stalemate and the deteriorating socio-economic conditions, the Special Coordinator voiced reassurances that “the security situation in Lebanon largely remained under control and commended the role of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces in that regard.”
Two weeks prior to the third anniversary of the Beirut Port explosion on August 4, Wronecka reiterated the UN’s calls for the Lebanese authorities to “follow through on an impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation.” She underlined “the importance of an independent and efficient judiciary as a backbone for the prevalence of the rule of law, justice, and accountability.”
In conclusion, she underlined the commitment of the United Nations to continue supporting Lebanon and the Lebanese people.
