Ban to Stress Need to Resolve Arms Possession in Lebanon during Beirut Trip

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to stress to various officials the need to resolve the possession of arms outside the authority of the Lebanese state during his trip to Beirut on January 13, reported al-Liwaa newspaper on Friday.

He is likely to stress the need to tackle this issue through dialogue, as well as by ensuring the liberation of all Lebanese territory.

Ban will be accompanied by his special envoy on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559, Terje Roed Larsen, which is a sign that the U.N. officials are determined to address the demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian border, in accordance with resolution 1680, and the renewal of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon cooperation protocol in March.

Informed sources told al-Liwaa that the demarcation of the border has become a necessity, especially in light of statements that the al-Qaida terrorist group had infiltrated Lebanon.

Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn had stated that the group had entered the Bekaa town of Arsal, sparking the criticism of the March 14-led opposition, which accused the minister of seeking to tarnish Lebanon’s image.

It also accused him of seeking to drag Lebanon into the Syrian crisis seeing as he made his statements shortly before twin explosions rocked the Syrian capital Damascus.

The Syrian regime accused al-Qaida of being behind the attack.