Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Saturday that the stability of Southern Lebanon is the key to achieving stability in the Middle East.

He stated before army units deployed in southern Lebanon: “Stability and security will not be achieved in the region without fair and permanent peace through the implementation of the international agreements that maintain the Palestinian people’s rights.”

The ministerial committee charged with tackling the issue of the demarcation of Lebanon’s maritime border with Israel is set to prepare a legal and diplomatic file ahead of presenting the case to the United Nations, revealed Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour to An Nahar daily in remarks published on Thursday.

The daily noted that an international understanding of Lebanon’s position on Israel’s latest stand on the matter has emerged, saying that the U.N. should handle this file according to international and maritime laws.

Lebanon has stressed its right to demarcate its maritime border in order to take advantage of its offshore oil wealth, security sources told the Central News Agency on Wednesday.

It demanded, during the regular tripartite meeting between Lebanon, Israel, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon held on the Lebanese-Israeli border at Ras al-Naqoura, that the U.N. take over the matter of demarcating the border.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati will keep top Sunni personalities in their “sensitive posts” despite previous campaigns by his allies to remove them for being close to former Premier Saad Hariri, ministerial sources said.

The sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published Monday that among the officials that Miqati intends to keep in their posts are General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza, Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and head of the Intelligence Bureau Col. Wissam al-Hassan.

Turkey's parliament has approved a government request to extend for one year the Turkish military mission with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

It was the fifth time that parliament extended the mission since it was first approved in September 2006.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Maritime Task Force (MTF) and the Lebanese Navy conducted a day-long combined exercise on Thursday involving live-firing and other operational activities at sea.

Seven vessels, including three from the Lebanese Navy, participated.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has reiterated his “strong support” for the international tribunal, which has submitted to the Lebanese authorities a sealed indictment and arrest warrants in the case of ex-PM Rafik Hariri’s assassination.

The secretary general calls on “all states to support the independent judicial process, in particular by cooperating with the Special Tribunal in the execution of the indictment and arrest warrants," said a statement issued by his spokesperson on Thursday.

President Michel Suleiman praised on Wednesday Spain’s support to Lebanon, starting with its participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

He made his statements after holding talks with visiting Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Soraya Rodriguez Ramos.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon delivered on Tuesday 48 sets of computers, 23 computer servers and accessories to the Lebanese army at a ceremony held at UNIFIL’s Headquarters in Naqoura.

Addressing the ceremony, UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas highlighted UNIFIL’s commitment to enhance the operational capabilities of the army to ensure security in the South.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams reiterated on Monday that U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon expects the new cabinet to announce its full commitment to international resolutions.

“I reiterated my expectation and the expectation of the Secretary-General that the government will restate its full support and commitment to the full implementation of 1701 in its ministerial declaration,” Williams said following talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail.