Suleiman to Ban: Let Israel Implement Resolution 1701 and Then Ask Us about 1559
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon encouraged on Thursday Lebanon to invest in its natural resources that are located in areas that are not under dispute, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.
It revealed that Ban “surprised” the Lebanese delegation in New York by bringing up the issue of U.N. Security Council resolution 1559, especially regarding the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon.
He reportedly informed President Michel Suleiman that Lebanon has not yet implemented that aspect of the resolution, to which the president replied that the implementation of the resolution is linked to resolution 1701.
He told the U.N. chief: “Lebanon should first implement resolution 1701 and then ask us about 1559.”
The two officials had discussed in New York the issue of Lebanon’s maritime border and its dispute with Israel over the matter.
Governmental sources told As Safir that Lebanon will soon present a draft law on its oil and gas resources and exclusive economic zone.
Tensions between Lebanon and Israel have recently escalated over the dispute over the maritime borders between the two sides in light of the discovery of offshore oil and gas in the Mediterranean.
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