JOINT STATEMENT ON POLITICAL CRISIS IN LEBANON
The representatives of Egypt, France, Italy, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Presidency of the European Union, European Commission and the High Representative/Secretary-General of the European Council met, under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, on 17 December in Paris, and issued the following statement:
“We gathered today to reaffirm our strong, non-negotiable support for Lebanon and its people.
“We share deep concern at the prolonged political crisis in Lebanon. We reiterate our call for unconditional Lebanese presidential elections, without any further delay. In this regard, we urge that Parliament be allowed to convene immediately to fulfill its constitutional duties. We insist that outside Powers act in compliance with the decisions of the Security Council, binding under international law upon all Member States, and fully respecting Lebanon’s constitution and democratic institutions.
“We strongly condemn the series of political assassinations and attempted assassinations that Lebanon has endured since October 2004, including the 12 December assassination of Brigadier General Francois el-Hajj. These acts of terror constitute a direct attack against the symbols of Lebanon’s sovereignty and institutions and are as such unacceptable and morally repugnant. It is imperative that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice. In that context, we support the UN Secretary-General’s effort to establish the Special Tribunal in a timely manner to hold to account all those responsible for this campaign of murder, wherever they may be.
“In these difficult times in Lebanon, we support the legitimate, democratically elected Lebanese Government and the Lebanese Armed Forces in their efforts to maintain the sovereignty and stability of Lebanon.
“We reiterate our call for the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon. We underline our call for the full implementation of UNSCR 1559, 1680, 1701 and all the Security Council resolutions related to Lebanon.”
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