Security Council Press Statement on Attack in Lebanon

 

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Raimonda Murmokaitė ( Lithuania):

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on 19 February in the Bir El Hassan neighbourhood in the vicinity of an Iranian cultural centre in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed at least eight people and wounded more than 100, responsibility for which has been claimed by an Al-Qaida-linked group.

The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the families of the victims and expressed their sympathy to all those injured in these heinous acts, and to the people and Government of Lebanon.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The members of the Security Council commended the commitment of the new Government to maintain security and stability in Lebanon, and underlined the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Recalling the presidential statement of 10 July 2013, the members of the Security Council appealed to all Lebanese people to preserve national unity in the face of attempts to undermine the country’s stability, and stressed the importance for all Lebanese parties to respect Lebanon’s policy of disassociation and to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with their commitment in the Baabda Declaration.

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For information media • not an official record