UN Secretary-General Guterres Received a Statement from Former Presidents and Prime Ministers before Leaving Lebanon

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met with former Presidents Michel Sleiman and Amin Gemayel and former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Tuesday, the last day of the SG’s tour of Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported.

 

Here’s what we know:

 

• The former presidents and prime ministers delivered a written statement to SG Guterres, composed “in light of the internal and external threats Lebanon is facing,” asking for the UN’s support in a list of “rightful national demands.”

 

• The demands include adherence to Lebanon’s constitution, the UN Security Council decisions related to the country and the 2012 Baabda Declaration which emphasized safeguarding the country from regional instability.

 

• The written statement also asked for the UN’s support in maintaining elections at their constitutional date, handling the influx of refugees and “investigating the Aug. 4 Beirut Port Blast and renovating the areas it devastated.”

 

• “Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence should not be compromised for regional accords,” the statement continued, saying there should not be “illegal weapons” in the country.

 

• SG Guterres was also called upon to ensure international financial support for Lebanon.