“The Secretary-General is deeply troubled by the recurring acts of terrorism in Lebanon which pose a severe threat to the country’s stability and national cohesion,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement that urged all parties to act with restraint and to support the State and its security forces in preventing further attacks.
“He welcomes the efforts of the Lebanese authorities and security forces to address the security challenges and to protect the country from the impact of the crisis in neighbouring Syria,” the spokesman added.
In their press statement today, the 15 members of the Security Council reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of any attempt to destabilize Lebanon through political assassinations and demanded an immediate end to the use of intimidation and violence against political figures.
They stressed the importance for all Lebanese parties to respect the country’s policy of disassociation and to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with their commitment in the Baabda Declaration.
The Declaration, issued during a National Dialogue meeting held at the Baabda Presidential Palace in June 2012, calls for keeping Lebanon neutral in the face of regional tensions and crises.
According to a press release issued today, Derek Plumbly, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the bombing.
Mr. Plumbly and the Secretary-General conveyed, as did Council members, their condolences to the families of the victims, and praised Mr. Chattah’s contributions to his country.
As finance minister in the government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and as foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Mr. Chattah had served as “a tireless voice for tolerance, diversity and moderation,” Mr. Ban said.
Mr. Plumbly described Mr. Chattah as “a good friend and a wise, courageous and patriotic man, who had consistently sought to promote dialogue and Lebanon’s well-being.”
All of today’s statements stressed the importance of bringing to justice those responsible for what they called an act of terrorism.
Additional political stresses on Lebanon due to the crisis in neighbouring Syria have been recognized by the UN-backed International Support Group for the country, which was inaugurated in New York in September on the margins of the 68th session of the General Assembly.
Meeting in late November, the Group pointed to, in particular, the large influx of refugees from Syria, regretting also the lack of progress on government formation in Beirut.
un.org
27/12/13
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Ein Schauplatz für den Krieg der Konfessionen....
ReplyDeleteSchockstarre im Beiruter Starco-Viertel: Seltsam ruhig nehmen die Menschen das Bombenattentat in ihrer Nachbarschaft hin. Sie ahnen, dass auch sie Opfer eines internationalen Religionskriegs sind.
[Von Fabian Spengler, Beirut.]
Es ist ein Ort wie geschaffen, um der sunnitischen Elite des Libanon ins Gesicht zu schlagen: Das Starco-Viertel ist nach einem gediegenen Einkaufszentrum aus den 90er-Jahren benannt. Die anderen Gebäude an diesem Platz in der libanesischen Hauptstadt Beirut stammen aus den Jahren nach der Jahrtausendwende. Die Familie des sunnitischen Ministerpräsidenten Rafik Hariri hat das Geld für die Bauten in Saudi-Arabien besorgt. Hier sieht es edler aus, als in mancher deutscher Innenstadt. Normalerweise.
Denn an diesem Vormittag verwüsteten zwei Detonationen den Platz – sie galten dem ehemaligen Finanzminister Mohammed Schatah, einem engen Vertrauten Rafik Hariris – und der Ort, an dem er starb, liegt nur fünf Gehminuten von jenem entfernt, an dem Hariri im Jahr 2005 bei einem Anschlag ums Leben kam. Damals wie heute führen die Spuren nach Syrien und in das explosive Spannungsfeld zwischen schiitischen und sunnitischen Muslimen in aller Welt.
"Was soll man machen. Wir waren nun einmal an der Reihe", sagt die 50-jährige Bassima, die einen kleinen Schreibwarenladen gleich neben dem Ort der Explosion führt. "Das ist eben Beirut." Äußerlich wirkt sie seltsam ruhig. Denn auch in ihrem Geschäft sind Scheiben zu Bruch gegangen, Stifte und Papiere liegen auf dem Boden, einige ihrer Mitarbeiter wurden von Scherben verletzt.......................http://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article123336624/Ein-Schauplatz-fuer-den-Krieg-der-Konfessionen.html
27/12/13
Turkish MoFA: 27 December 2013, Press Release Regarding the Bomb Attack Perpetrated in Beirut....
ReplyDeleteWe strongly condemn the attack perpetrated this morning (27 December) in Beirut city center targeting the former Lebanese Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah and express our sincere condolences to the friendly and brotherly people of Lebanon. We wish God’s mercy upon those who lost their lives in this heinous attack, convey our sympathy to their families and hope for a speedy recovery of the wounded. We hope that the perpetrators of this terrorist attack will be swiftly identified and brought to justice.
It is obvious that this heinous act targeted an eminent personality who was respected and appreciated by the people of Lebanon and also contributed to the relations between Turkey and Lebanon, actually chose the stability and integrity of Lebanon as a target in this sensitive period that the region is going through.
We believe that the people of Lebanon, regardless of the segment they belong to in the society, will not be conned by this ploy and opt for the protection of the country’s unity and stability through displaying common sense and restraint.
Turkey is determined to continue to be in solidarity with the State and the people of Lebanon also in this critical period to ensure the preservation of the peace, stability and security of Lebanon and to provide the necessary support.
H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, conveyed our condolences as well as the abovementioned feelings and thoughts to H.E. Mr. Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon, and H.E. Mr. Fouad Siniora, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, with whom he had telephone conservations today.
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-343_-27-december-2013_-press-release-regarding-the-bomb-attack-perpetrated-in-beirut.en.mfa
27/12/13
Report: Katyusha rockets explode in Kiryat Shmona...Two explosions were heard in the norther Galilee early Sunday morning, Channel 2 reported...
ReplyDeleteThe explosion in Kiryat Shmona, Israel Defense Forces are investigating whether a Katyusha rocket fell.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Report-Katyusha-rockets-explode-in-Kiryat-Shmona-336437
29/12/13
Ya'alon: Israel views Lebanese government as responsible for Katyushas...
ReplyDeleteDefense Minister Moshe Ya'alon warned the Lebanese government that Israel views it as responsible for the rocket fire on Kiryat Shmona on Sunday morning.
"We will not tolerate fire from Lebanese territory and we will not permit any party who wants to interrupt the daily routine of Israelis."
"We see the Lebanese government and the Lebanese military as responsible for the shooting this morning and for whatever happens in their territory, and we will not permit further incidents like the one that happened this morning."
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Yaalon-Israel-views-Lebanese-government-as-responsible-for-Katyushas-336441
29/12/13
IDF responds with artillery fire into south Lebanon; Nissim Malka, mayor of Kiryat Shmona, told Channel 2 News, "We woke up to the sounds of rockets this morning. At the moment residents are going to work as normal."............
ReplyDeletePrime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the Lebanese government bears responsibility for the rocket fire which hit near the northern town of Kiryat Shmona early Sunday morning, which awoke to the sounds of exploding Katyushas.
“The IDF responded with force and speed to the rocket fire,” Netanyahu said at the start of the cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday.
“We will not permit a trickle of rocket fire toward Israel,” the premier said.
The Lebanese government “is not lifting a finger to prevent the armament of terrorist organizations,” the prime minister said.
The IDF responded with intense artillery fire toward the location from which four rockets were launched in southern Lebanon just minutes after residents of the border town of Kiryat Shmona heard loud explosions.
Army sources say that the source of the fire has been identified but that it was too soon to say which organization is responsible for the attack..................http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Two-Katyusha-rockets-fired-at-Kiryat-Shmona-336438
29/12/13
Israël riposte dans le sud du Liban après des tirs de roquette...
ReplyDeleteDeux roquettes tirées du territoire libanais sont tombées aux premières heures, dimanche 29 décembre, dans le nord d'Israël, sans faire ni victimes ni dégâts, et l'armée israélienne a riposté par des tirs d'artillerie en direction du Liban, ont rapporté les autorités israéliennes.
« Une vingtaine d'obus en provenance du territoire israélien sont tombés dans la région frontalière d'Arqoub, après le tir de roquettes vers Israël ce (dimanche) matin », a annoncé une source libanaise de sécurité, précisant qu'il n'y avait pas de victime.
« L'artillerie israélienne a répliqué à des tirs de roquettes à partir du Liban vers Israël qui n'ont pas fait de victime, en visant le secteur d'où ces engins avaient été tirés », a affirmé pour sa part la porte-parole de l'armée israélienne, précisant que les roquettes avaient explosé à l'ouest de la ville de Kyriat Shmona. La radio militaire israélienne a fait état de deux roquettes tirées depuis le Liban et de trois obus tirés en représailles par Israël.
Une brusque montée de tension s'est produite récemment à la frontière israélo-libanaise à la suite de la mort d'un soldat israélien tué le 16 décembre par un militaire libanais à la frontière. L'armée israélienne avait ensuite répliqué de manière limitée. Des représentants de la Finul (Force intérimaire des Nations unies au Liban) avaient alors rencontré des responsables des deux pays pour rétablir le calme.
Il s'agissait de l'accrochage frontalier le plus meurtrier depuis août 2010, quand un soldat israélien, deux soldats et un journaliste libanais avaient été tués. La situation à la frontière israélo-libanaise est généralement calme depuis que l'armée israélienne et le Hezbollah se sont affrontés très durement à l'été 2006. Plus de 1 200 Libanais avaient été tués, en majorité des civils, ainsi que 160 Israéliens, des militaires pour la plupart.
http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2013/12/29/israel-riposte-a-des-tirs-de-roquette-lances-depuis-le-sud-du-liban_4341092_3218.html#xtor=RSS-3208
29/12/13