Watkins Meets Geagea: A Lot of Progress Needed to Achieve Permanent Ceasefire in South

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Ad Interim Robert Watkins stated on Wednesday that the U.N. is “relatively pleased” with the quiet and stability in the South.

He said after holding talks with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea: “We still feel there is a lot of progress that needs to be made towards a permanent ceasefire” by both Israel and Lebanon.

The talks between the two officials focused on Lebanon’s implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and the two explosions that took place in Tyre on Wednesday morning.

“We are very concerned of course by any kind of rupture of stability in the country and explosions of this nature are an issue of concern, particularly when they happen in the South,” Watkins added.

He said that there are no indications that the explosions were targeted towards the United Nations, but stressed the need to ensure the safety of all staff.

“We are very sensitive both from our own security perspective and also for the security and fragility of Lebanon,” he said.

Watkins had held talks earlier with MP Butros Harb.

The officials also addressed Syrian army incursions into Lebanon and the problems of the management of the Lebanese-Syrian border.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon submitted on Tuesday to the Security Council his 17th report on resolution 1701.

The report will be discussed at the U.N. on November 29.

Twin bomb blasts targeted a hotel and a liquor store in the southern city of Tyre at dawn Wednesday, causing extensive damage but no casualties.

The first explosion ripped through a restaurant of the three-story Queen Elissa hotel which lies on the coast around 5:00 am. Several vehicles were damaged in the blast.

Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3) said a UNIFIL official was at the hotel when the bomb went off.

A similar explosion tore through the liquor shop a few minutes later.