Daily Star - Geir pedersen urges election of president as a 'start', February 05, 2008
Departing UN special coordinator for Lebanon said late Sunday night that Lebanon was not a failed state. "However, the failure to elect a new president, the debate over the legitimacy of the government and the 2006 summer war are sources of concern and a threat to Lebanon's stability ... and these problems must be solved," Geir Pedersen told LBC Television. He said there was a "pressing" need to elect a president and that he feared additional assassinations.
"The matter of Hizbullah's arms must be solved through dialogue. It is not acceptable that one party decides over war and peace," Pedersen said. "There is a need to solve the present crisis, not only to find a solution to Hizbullah's arms, but to safeguard Lebanon's security, bring an end to political assassinations and implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 [which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon]." "Let us start by electing a president and continue this process step by step," Pedersen said, adding that Resolution 1701 was a "success." "We have managed to preserve calm for more than 18 months in South Lebanon. It is the first time since 1978 we witness such a long period of stability," he said. "People fear a new war, but this will not happen. First, because of the cooperation between all Lebanese factions over ... 1701. Second, because of the cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in addition to the army's deployment in the South." However, Pedersen said that much more should have been achieved. "We should have been able to move immediately from hostilities to a cease-fire and a truce. Israeli military flights over Lebanon should have been brought to an end, as well as arms smuggling and the cluster-bomb problem," he said. He also noted that UNIFIL is taking seriously any threats against its troops. "Unfortunately, we haven't reached any results in the investigations into the attacks against UNIFIL troops. Yet none of the clues we have point to Hizbullah." Pedersen said that arms smuggling across the Lebanese border is ongoing. "There is a problem on the Lebanon-Syria border, and this is a challenge for Lebanon and requires a political decision," he said. Commenting on the Winograd report on Israeli conduct during its 2006 war with Lebanon, Pedersen said, "It is stunning to see Israelis discussing sincerely and honestly their failure in achieving their political and military goals. This failure was due to several elements, including the excellent cooperation and negotiations between Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the international community." "Lebanon must be proud of Resolution 1701, as it achieved peace. Therefore,it must be fully implemented," he added. Commenting on the probe into the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri, Pedersen said he was "certain that one day the truth will be revealed." "I don't know the details of the investigation, but I know that a serious one is being conducted. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon will start operating soon and will be based on international law and principles, and will seek the implementation of international law and the pursuit of justice." "No one will escape punishment, and assassinations are no longer acceptable," he said. "The UN supports the Lebanese and assists them while seeking the truth."
Departing UN special coordinator for Lebanon said late Sunday night that Lebanon was not a failed state. "However, the failure to elect a new president, the debate over the legitimacy of the government and the 2006 summer war are sources of concern and a threat to Lebanon's stability ... and these problems must be solved," Geir Pedersen told LBC Television. He said there was a "pressing" need to elect a president and that he feared additional assassinations.
"The matter of Hizbullah's arms must be solved through dialogue. It is not acceptable that one party decides over war and peace," Pedersen said. "There is a need to solve the present crisis, not only to find a solution to Hizbullah's arms, but to safeguard Lebanon's security, bring an end to political assassinations and implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 [which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon]." "Let us start by electing a president and continue this process step by step," Pedersen said, adding that Resolution 1701 was a "success." "We have managed to preserve calm for more than 18 months in South Lebanon. It is the first time since 1978 we witness such a long period of stability," he said. "People fear a new war, but this will not happen. First, because of the cooperation between all Lebanese factions over ... 1701. Second, because of the cooperation between the Lebanese Army and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in addition to the army's deployment in the South." However, Pedersen said that much more should have been achieved. "We should have been able to move immediately from hostilities to a cease-fire and a truce. Israeli military flights over Lebanon should have been brought to an end, as well as arms smuggling and the cluster-bomb problem," he said. He also noted that UNIFIL is taking seriously any threats against its troops. "Unfortunately, we haven't reached any results in the investigations into the attacks against UNIFIL troops. Yet none of the clues we have point to Hizbullah." Pedersen said that arms smuggling across the Lebanese border is ongoing. "There is a problem on the Lebanon-Syria border, and this is a challenge for Lebanon and requires a political decision," he said. Commenting on the Winograd report on Israeli conduct during its 2006 war with Lebanon, Pedersen said, "It is stunning to see Israelis discussing sincerely and honestly their failure in achieving their political and military goals. This failure was due to several elements, including the excellent cooperation and negotiations between Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the international community." "Lebanon must be proud of Resolution 1701, as it achieved peace. Therefore,it must be fully implemented," he added. Commenting on the probe into the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri, Pedersen said he was "certain that one day the truth will be revealed." "I don't know the details of the investigation, but I know that a serious one is being conducted. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon will start operating soon and will be based on international law and principles, and will seek the implementation of international law and the pursuit of justice." "No one will escape punishment, and assassinations are no longer acceptable," he said. "The UN supports the Lebanese and assists them while seeking the truth."
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