Security Council Press Statement on Lebanon

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Cristián Barros Melet (Chile):

The members of the Security Council are outraged by the terrorist attack in Tripoli (Lebanon) on 10 January which has caused numerous deaths and injuries and for which Jahbat Al-Nusra has claimed responsibility.  The members of the Security Council condemned the attack in the strongest terms.  They expressed their condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and Government of the Republic of Lebanon.  The members of the Security Council also wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

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 and whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with their responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Lebanese authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

Recalling the presidential statements of 10 July 2013 and of 29 May 2014, 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.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their full support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence.