S/PV.5896 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council congratulates the leaders and people of Lebanon and welcomes and strongly supports the agreement reached in Doha on 21 May under the auspices of the Arab League, which constitutes an essential step towards the resolution of the current crisis, the return to the normal functioning of Lebanese democratic institutions, and the complete restoration of Lebanon’s unity and stability. “It commends the efforts of the Arab League, in particular of the committee of Foreign Ministers, under the leadership of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani, and Secretary-General Amr Moussa, in helping Lebanese leaders reach an agreement. “The Security Council welcomes the agreement to elect a president of the Republic, to establish a national unity cabinet and to address Lebanon’s electoral law, in accordance with the Arab League initiative, as well as the decision to continue the national dialogue on ways to reinforce the authority of the State over all its territory in such a way as to guarantee the sovereignty and the safety of the State and the people of Lebanon. It welcomes the agreement to ban the use of weapons and violence as a means to settle disputes, irrespective of their nature and under any circumstances. “It calls for the implementation of this agreement in its entirety, in accordance with the Arab League initiative and in conformity with the Taif agreement and all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements of its President on the situation in Lebanon. “The Security Council reaffirms its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, unity and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders and under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2008/17. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.