During his visit to Lebanon, the Secretary-General will meet with UN peacekeepers. UN chief to visit Lebanon Peace and security
This week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will travel to Lebanon, UN Press Secretary Stephane Dujarric announced at a briefing in New York. The relevant agreements were reached last weekend during a telephone conversation between Guterres and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The UN chief congratulated him on his election to this post. Guterres also spoke with the country’s interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
In Beirut, the UN chief will meet with Lebanon’s political leadership and others. The Secretary-General is also expected to travel to southern Lebanon to meet with UN peacekeepers and express his support and gratitude for the work they are doing in very difficult and dangerous circumstances.
Responding to a reporter’s question about the imminent expiration of the 60-day deadline specified in the agreement to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Dujarric called the document “extremely important.”
“The situation on the ground is better than it was before. We continue to see violations along the Blue Line, which is worrying,” the spokesman said.
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“I believe it is extremely important that the parties use this time to consolidate the peace, to allow the Lebanese who had to leave the south [of the country] to return home, and to allow the Israelis who had to leave the north of their country to return home. “This will allow civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to start their lives anew,” he added.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on November 27, 2024. Since then, tens of thousands of civilians who fled the fighting have been able to return to their homes.