“I think we both agreed that it was imperative that a new government is formed as soon as possible,” Williams said following talks with the head of Hezbollah’s international relations department.

“There are many difficulties, economic difficulties but we also consider for example the security problems in the region,” added Williams, a statement by his office said.

Tripoli MP Najib Mikati, the Hezbollah-backed candidate to replace caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri, was appointed prime minister-designate on Jan. 25. Internal divisions within and external pressures on the March 8 coalition have been cited as reasons for the four month delay in forming the country’s new government.

Williams said his discussions with Moussawi had been extensive, covering developments at both the local and regional levels.

The U.N. envoy said the May 15 events in Maroun al-Ras in the south, when a border conflict between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops led to the death of 11 demonstrators, had also been discussed and said parties needed to work together to avoid a repeat of the tragedy.

“I once again expressed my condolences for the many Palestinian lives that were lost on that tragic day,” Williams added

“I believe too that because of the situation in the region and in the south, it is very important for all parties to commit to Resolution 1701,” Williams said, referring to the U.N. Security Council that ended the July-August war between Lebanon and Israel that led to the death of over 1,200 Lebanese, most of them civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

“I know there are different views on the implementation of 1701 and I believe that this is natural. But I still believe that 1701 has brought a stability to southern Lebanon and the people of southern Lebanon, which they did not have for many, many years before the 2006 war,” Williams added.