U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams called the rocket attack from southern Lebanon on Israel a “very serious development” and hoped the government formation process would be placed “back on track.”
“It is a very very serious development and I would call on all sides to exercise absolute caution and restraint,” Williams said following talks with MP Saad Hariri in Qoreitem on Friday.

On the crisis in cabinet formation, he said: “The United Nations regrets the failure of the different political sides to reach an agreement on forming a new government.”

“I regret that the efforts of the parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri were not successful,” he added.

He believed, however, that a solution could be found and hoped that the consultations which President Michel Suleiman will launch with parliamentary blocs “will be successful in placing the process of government formation back on track.”

“When I met with President Suleiman on Wednesday at Beiteddine, we agreed that dialogue must be maintained and that Lebanon must not return to the old days of polarization and crisis,” Williams told reporters.

“If the Lebanese remain committed to the objective of a national unity government and work towards this goal, I believe it will be achieved,” he added.

BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir expressed fears on Sunday that Lebanon’s participation in the United Nations General Assembly meetings in September, without a new government is “not something to be proud of.” “The slowdown in the formation of the government is not a healthy sign,” Sfeir said during his Sunday sermon at his summer residence in the northern village of Diman. “The country is in need of people who will run its affairs and meet the needs of the citizens,” he added. Sleiman will take part in the UN’s General Assembly meetings that will kick off on September 23, and is due to deliver Lebanon’s address. – The Daily Star

Lebanon is expected to be elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a period of two years at the end of next month, in the 64 session of the UN General Assembly.

“the Foreign ministry began a series of contacts and consultations with relevant countries on this level, in addition to notes sent to the Lebanese ambassadors abroad and particularly those adopted in the decision-making capitals, to urge them to provide the necessary support and push for Lebanon to win this seat in the Security COuncil.”, a senior diplomatic source told Al-Nahar newspaper.

The source said Lebanon’s victory is “certain” since Beirut has the Arab League’s support and the efforts to secure as many votes as possible are lead by many activists.

Should Lebanon win these elections, it would allow it to participate in major discussions and decisions and it would put it right in the heart of regional and international events.

BEIRUT, April 10 (Xinhua) — Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said Friday that there is no need for Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, Lebanon’s local Elnashra website reported.

“There is no need for Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, since the hanging issues between the two countries are ruled by international resolutions which should be implemented,” Salloukh affirmed before heading to Jordan Saturday to participate in the Arab ministers’ consultative meetings.

He stressed that Israel should be “obliged to implement UN resolutions unconditionally,” adding that “Lebanon will stress the need to oblige Israel to respect previous understandings, and stop its sectarian acts of settlements, threats, siege and crossing closures.”

Salloukh pointed out that the meeting of the Arab ministers in Jordan scheduled on Saturday will discuss a united Arab stand regarding the peace process, and the requirements of the American administration in moving forward the peace process in the region.

He added that the upcoming Jordan meeting was decided during the Arab summit in Doha last March, and aims at putting together “A Joint Arab stand regarding the peace process, and informs this stand to the new American administration.”