The irony here is that Lebanon in its new UN role is expected to influence worldwide decisions. The Security Council after all is the world body's most powerful organ and is responsible for decisions on issues of war and peace, sanctions against nations and peacekeeping. Its decisions can be legally binding on all U.N. members.
Most UN diplomats welcomed the election of Lebanon which they say will bring a moderate Arab voice to UN Council
“It is a symbol that Lebanon has overcome the civil war and is rebuilding its institutions and its presence abroad,” French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud said and added : “Lebanon has always been a bridge between the West and East, and I think that will be its role in the Security Council.”
Palestinian Authority UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour, noting that there are about 422,000 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon, said the government in Beirut will be closely aligned with the Palestinian campaign for statehood. He said Lebanon brings the “additional element of really dealing” with Israel because of the refugees and their common border.
Lebanon will replace Libya, whose leader last month urged that the Security Council be abolished and power shifted to the General Assembly
Lebanon’s Prime Minister designate Saad Hariri, whose March 14 majority coalition defeated the Hezbollah led March 8 opposition alliance in the June 7 parliamentary elections, has been unsuccessful so far in forming a government, because of outside regional influence. Last week a Saudi - Syrian summit took place in Damascus to help resolve their differences which have largely influenced the internal situation in Lebanon but so far there is no evidence that the summit made any difference . The opposition continues to act as the winner in the elections and is imposing impossible demands on Hariri
The sticking issue appears to be the allocation of the ministry of communications . Hezbollah’s ally FPM leader general Michel Aoun is insisting on having this ministry allocated to his parliamentary bloc , while Hariri wants the majority alliance to have it . The French on the other hand have proposed that this ministry should be included in the share of the president
Harir and Aoun are planning to meet Friday afternoon to help resolve the impasse , but according to As safir newspaper the problem is the outside influence … No green light yet to form the cabinet , the paper reported
Friday
9:05pm FPM leader MP Michel Aoun is meeting with PM-designate Saad Hariri at the Center House to discuss cabinet formation developments.
8:44pm Hobeish says cabinet will not be formed soon if the opposition maintains its impossible demands
7:57pm Future News: PM-designate Saad Hariri will inform President Michel Suleiman of the outcome of his discussions with the various political sides before Suleiman visits Spain on Sunday.
7:35pm Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud: Bourj Hammoud incident is not political and we will pursue security disrupters.
5:40pm UNIFIL Spokesman Milos Struger: Lebanese Army and UNIFIL examined a site in Deir Qanoun al-Nahr village previously suspected of warehousing equipment transferred from Teir Felsay where the explosion took place Monday night
5:10 pm Israel called the UN Human Rights Council's endorsement on Friday of the UN Goldstone Commission report on the Gaza war an anti-Israeli "diplomatic farce," while the Palestinians welcomed it.
3:42pm Army Commander General Jean Kahwaji met at his office with UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziano.
3:20pm US ambassador Sisson says : Washington is not against formation of national-unity cabinet
3:00pm Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero arrived in the South to meet his country's brigade commander and officers working among the UNIFIL forces.
2:10 pm Sison congratulated Salloukh on Lebanon’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Counci and called for forming a cabinet in line with the outcome of parliamentary elections
1:41pm Zapatero is holding talks with President Suleiman.
1:20pm Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero arrived at Rafik Hariri international airport.
12:30pm Representatives of parliamentary blocs agreed to limit Tuesday’s parliament session to the election of secretaries and rapporteurs and decided to postpone election of committee members until after an agreement on the cabinet is reached
12:14pm Iranian ambassador Shibani from Bkirki: cabinet formation is a Lebanese issue. Iran supports the Lebanese people and government.
11:16 Two bus drivers were injured during a sit-in near Bourj Hammoud bridge after an unknown assailant opened fire on them and escaped.
11:15 A consultative meeting is underway among parliamentary bloc representatives ahead of the Oct. 20 parliament session to elect members and heads of parliamentary committees, secretaries and rapporteurs
10:15 Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir met Iranian Ambassador Mohammed Riza Shibani in a farewell visit.
8:30 MP Anwar al-Khalil told VOL: The situation is fluctuating between optimism and pessimism but it’s too early to say that it is not positive.
Thursday
11:45 pm A-Arabiyeh: Mystery still surrounds the $18.5 billion in currency and gold that Turkish customs has reportedly confiscated last July from an Iranian Truck that was reportedly on its way to Syria. The Iranian opposition is claiming the funds were being sent to Hezbollah via Syria. Turkey has reportedly transferred the funds to its central bank.
11:30 Editor in chief of Saudi Al Riyadh newspaper Turki el Sudeiri apologized for what he wrote in his editorial 2 days ago in which he asked : "Why doesn't Lebanon return to Syria"? . He called his article a big mistake ... short on vision and imagination"
11:00pm MP Nadim Gemayel : The Kataeb party is ready to sacrifice with one or 2 ministerial portfolios for the sake of building a state and Aoun remains the main obstacle
10:50 pm UN representative Williams said Lebanon’s election as non-permanent member of UNSC is an opportunity for Lebanese diplomacy
10:40pm President Michel Suleiman said on Thursday his country will defend Arab interests, after Lebanon was elected to the UN Security Council for the first time since 1954.
10:30 pm Lebanon was elected for a two-year term as non-permanent member in UN Security Council, "Lebanon won 180 votes out of 190," Lebanon FM Salloukh said and added "which proves the level of confidence the world has in Lebanon's credibility, and that Lebanon has a lot of friends around the world ."
