UN ENVOY DISCUSSES FREE AND FAIR LEBANESE ELECTIONS WITH SAUDI MONARCH

UN ENVOY DISCUSSES FREE AND FAIR LEBANESE ELECTIONS WITH SAUDI MONARCH New York, Mar 17 2008 6:00PM The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for free and fair presidential elections in Lebanon without interference from foreign influences and for the disbandment of all militia groups operating in the country, met with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah in Riyadh yesterday.

Terje Roed-Larsen discussed the situation in Lebanon with the king, and he held talks on Saturday in Paris with Foreign Minister Saud El-Faisal, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dispatched his Special Envoy to several capitals for consultations in advance of his upcoming report, due on 21 April, to the Council on the implementation of the resolution.

Earlier this month, Mr. Roed-Larsen visited Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to whom he gave a letter from Mr. Ban regarding Lebanon. He also met with Amr Moussa, the Secretary-General of the Arab League.

Resolution 1559 also calls for the strict respect of Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese Government.
2008-03-17 00:00:00.000

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