Americas

Home page

Americas

UN official for Lebanon calls for full ceasefire between Lebanon, Israel

07 October 2011 03:20 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Outgoing UN special coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said here Thursday that he encourages Lebanon and Israel to turn the cessation of hostilities that ended their 2006 war into a formal ceasefire, APA reports quoting news.xinhaunet.com website.

"Moving forward to a ceasefire would require both parties to make courageous steps but I have no doubt that it would also bring very significant gains, enhanced stability at a time of profound change in the Middle East and in the broader Arab world," he said.

Williams made the remarks when speaking to reporters about the end of his three-year tenure as head of the office of the UN special coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), which he has held since Oct. 2008. At UNSCOL, Williams has been tasked with coordinating UN work in Lebanon, supporting the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, and promoting the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 and other relevant measures.

The council passed resolution 1701 to end the 2006 summer war between Israel and Lebanon with a ceasefire. The resolution called for full respect for the "blue line" that serves as a border between the two countries, as well as the disarmament of Lebanese militias and an end to arms smuggling.

Williams encouraged Israel and Lebanon to harness political will to end their conflict more formally.

"It has been clear for some time that both sides need to demonstrate a stronger political will and take additional steps to allow us to move from a cessation of hostilities to a formal cease fire," he said.