BEIRUT: U.N. envoy Michael Williams held separate meetings Monday with senior Lebanese officials to discuss the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon met with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces Gen. Jean Kahwaji for meetings in which Williams underlined the importance of “calm and stability” in Lebanon in order to facilitate all international obligations and resolutions.

“I welcomed the renewed commitment of the new Lebanese government to Resolution 1701 and expressed the hope that more progress could be achieved in the coming months to meet the remaining requirements of that resolution,” Williams said after his meeting with Ghosn. 

Resolution 1701 ended the 2006 Lebanon-Israel war and called for a halt in border violations. It also extended the mandate of the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon and called on the Lebanese government to extend control over its territories.

The resolution also calls for the full implementation of relevant provisions including the Taef Accord, and resolutions 1559 and 1860, which require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon. It calls on the Lebanese government to secure its borders and other entry points to prevent unauthorized entry into Lebanon of arms or related material and requests UNFIL to assist the government in this regard.