UN Chief Talks With Hezbollah, Arab Summit During Beirut Visit

Text of report by Dubai-based news channel Al-Arabiya TV on 31 March

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who paid a visit to southern Lebanon today, has pledged to exert efforts to turn the cessation of military operations between Israel and Hezbollah, which was reached last summer, into a permanent cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel.

Ban Ki-moon, who visited the UNIFIL headquarters in the border town of Al-Naqurah in southern Lebanon and toured the border area with Israel, voiced his hope that the current calm would prevail and that good cooperation with the Lebanese Army would continue. Ban Ki- moon pledged continued UN support for the Lebanese people.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also expressed his hope that the Lebanese would take all necessary measures to reach an agreement regarding the establishment of an international tribunal to deal with the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Arabiya at the sidelines of his Beirut visit, Ban Ki-moon stressed that whoever was involved with the assassination should not have immunity and should face justice

[Ban in English with voice-over translation into Arabic, translated from the Arabic] I am convinced that through efforts being exerted to launch talks between leaders of various Lebanese parties, the Lebanese people might be able to adopt a unified vision to secure a better future. I personally urge everyone to immediately participate in some sort of dialogue.

I hope that the Lebanese government would take all necessary measures that are in line with the constitution to reach an agreement on the establishment of an international tribunal, which is a major part of implementing UN resolutions. There should be no immunity because those involved in the crime of assassinating late Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri should face justice.

[Talal al-Hajj, Al-Arabiya correspondent, in English with voice- over translation into Arabic, translated from the Arabic] [as published] Following your meeting with Minister [Muhammad] Funaysh, he told us that you have not raised the issue of weapon smuggling via border with him, justifying this by saying that Hezbollah has all the weapons it needs, and since the UN secretary general is aware of this matter, he did not raise this issue. How do you comment on this?

[Ban Ki-moon] Because of the limited time available, I discussed a host of issues in general with a Hezbollah deputy. Of course, I underlined the need to implement all the provisions of UN Resolution 1701 stipulating the dismantling of Hezbollah weapons and halting of weapon smuggling into Lebanon.

I was encouraged to see Arab leaders embark on in-depth discussion of various Arab and Islamic issues and problems, which are many.

I employed the Saudi monarch’s invitation to participate in the Riyadh summit in order to speak at length with Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir about Darfur. It is possible to say that we reached a common ground for taking advanced steps towards settling the crisis in the Darfur region.

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