Watkins Meets Mansour: Lebanon, Israel Must Do More to Implement Remainder of Resolution 1701

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon ad interim Robert Watkins welcomed on Tuesday Lebanon’s continuing commitment to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

He said after holding talks with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour: “Lebanon and Israel should be doing more to ensure that the remaining requirements of the resolution are met.”

He also reiterated the concern of the United Nations over recent incidents in southern Lebanon, particularly over the attack against the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon on December 9.

“I expressed the hope and expectation of the United Nations that the Lebanese authorities will take the necessary measures to bring those responsible to justice,” Watkins said.

The meeting also addressed the different areas of cooperation between Lebanon and the United Nations, in particular the follow-up on the Convention on Cluster Munitions since Lebanon has been President of the conference since last September.

Watkins continued: “We also agreed today with Mansour on the importance of safeguarding Lebanon’s security and stability, particularly in light of the dramatic developments in the surrounding Arab region.”

On December 9, a French UNIFIL unit was the victim of a bomb attack in the southern city of Tyre.

Seven people, including five soldiers, were wounded in the attack.