The UN Security Council, in a statement issued on Friday, called on the Lebanese authorities to investigate the attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and to bring those involved to justice.
The members of the Security Council “deplored the incidents that took place on 22 December 2021, 4, 13 and 25 January in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)’s area of operations and recalled the necessity for all parties to ensure that UNIFIL personnel are safe and secure and their freedom of movement is fully respected and unimpeded.”
The statement continued: “The members of the Security Council called on the Lebanese authorities to investigate all attacks against UNIFIL and its personnel and bring to justice the perpetrators of those incidents in accordance with the Lebanese law and consistent with Security Council resolution 2589 (2021).”
The Security Council also reiterated the need for a “swift, independent, impartial, thorough, and transparent investigation into the explosions which struck Beirut on 4 August 2020.”
Calling on Lebanon to implement the relevant international resolutions, the UNSC said: “The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong support for the stability, security, territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon, consistent with Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1680 (2006), 1559 (2004), and 2591 (2021), as well as other relevant Security Council resolutions and statements of the President of the Security Council on the situation in Lebanon,” underlined the statement, which was proposed by France.
The Security Council also said that it took note positively of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Lebanon on Jan. 24 and stressed the need for the swift resumption of its regular meetings.
“As the Lebanese population is facing dire needs and has expressed legitimate aspirations for reforms, elections and justice, the members of the Security Council urged expeditious and effective decisions by the Government to initiate measures, including the swift adoption of an appropriate budget for 2022 that would enable the quick conclusion of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” it stated.
The SC members “reiterated with urgency the need to implement previously outlined, tangible reforms which are necessary to help the Lebanese population.”
They also urged the Lebanese authorities to hold “free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections as scheduled on 15 May 2022, ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of women as candidates and voters in the election.”
