Watkins Meets Gemayel, Voices Concern over Cross-Border Violence
Robert Watkins, the U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon ad interim, on Tuesday described the overnight rocket attack on Israel and the retaliation that ensued against Lebanese territory as a “very unfortunate incident.”
Watkins’ remarks were voiced during a meeting with Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, during which they discussed “the implementation of (U.N.) Security Council Resolution 1701 and the latest report on that resolution, which the Security Council is set to discuss at a meeting in New York” later on Tuesday.
The U.N. official condemned “the firing of rockets across the Blue Line from south Lebanon into Israel and expressed concern over Israel’s response at dawn this morning,” Watkins’ office said in a statement.
Watkins hoped it “would be limited to what happened this morning and that there would not be any heightening of hostilities.”
Watkins and Gemayel also discussed the general situation in Lebanon. “I voiced the expectation of the United Nations that Lebanon will continue to meet all its international obligations, including those related to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” Watkins said.
“We are following developments in that regard very closely and await the outcome of the discussions of the Lebanese government,” he added.
The U.N. Security Council is set to meet later on Tuesday in New York to discuss the seventeenth report of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the implementation of UNSCR 1701.
The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe will be briefing the Council on the report, Watkins’ office said.
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