Ban Meets Suleiman: Lebanon Should Implement STL Obligations

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon reiterated his support for the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during talks with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting in New York.

Ban’s office said Thursday the U.N. secretary-general reiterated his call on the Lebanese government to implement all its obligations with regard to the tribunal, which was set up to try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s suspected assassins.

The two men also discussed the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah, the statement said.

Ban stressed the importance of full respect by all parties for the U.N.-drawn Blue Line separating the two countries and the key role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, it added.

After the meeting, Ban attended the Security Council session that was chaired by Suleiman. The Council voiced its determination to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations in defusing potential and ongoing conflicts, and encouraged the world body to use all the preventive diplomacy tools at its disposal.

Lebanon holds the Council’s presidency for September.