King Abdullah Initiative Helps in Stabilization of Lebanon: Top U.N. Envoy

United Nations, May 08, SPA--The top United Nations envoy for Lebanon
told a meeting of the Security Council on Thursday that the Arab
reconciliation initiative launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Kuwait in January this
year has helped in stabilizing Lebanon.

Terje Roed-Larsen, special envoy for the secretary general on
implementing resolution 1559, said that the past six months saw
“notable steps towards the normalization of ties between Lebanon and
Syria.”

He added that regional developments have contributed to stabilizing
Lebanon, “in particular in the context of the Arab reconciliation
efforts initiated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at the Arab League Economic Summit
held in Kuwait in January 2009.”

Lebanon had been on the brink of a civil war a year ago but the
country’s domestic, political and security situation “has improved
markedly” since then.
The country will hold parliamentary elections next month and this
will mark a milestone toward the full implementation of resolution
1559, Roed-Larsen said.

Resolution 1559 called for Lebanon to establish its full sovereignty
over the country, the withdrawal of foreign forces, disbanding of
militias and free and fair