SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH LEBANON’S PRIME MINISTER; ELECTIONS, SYRIAN WITHDRAWAL, HARIRI INVESTIGATION DISCUSSED

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH LEBANON’S PRIME MINISTER; ELECTIONS,

SYRIAN WITHDRAWAL, HARIRI INVESTIGATION DISCUSSED

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General met today with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati.  They discussed a range of issues, including the upcoming Parliamentary elections, the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559, and the establishment of a UN International Independent Investigation Commission into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 20 others.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call for the full implementation of resolution 1559.  He took note that Prime Minister Mikati had welcomed UN electoral assistance and the deployment of European Union electoral observers.  The Secretary-General commended the Prime Minister for his efforts to ensure that the elections will be held on schedule and in a free and credible manner.  The Secretary-General also expressed his thanks to Prime Minister Mikati for his Government’s support for the UN technical military team that is working to verify the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon.

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