Williams Reiterates Importance of Lebanon’s Respect of International Obligations

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams reiterated on Wednesday that Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s government should continue to respect Lebanon’s international obligations.

Following talks with Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb, Williams said: “I reiterated to Minister Harb the importance that any new government continue to respect Lebanon’s international obligations.”

“I commended the minister for his engagement in efforts to ensure that dialogue between all sides continues and that a new government reflects the aspirations of all Lebanese people,” he said.

“Dialogue is indispensable, in Lebanon as elsewhere. The events in the wider Arab world underline that communication between political and social forces is essential,” Williams added.

He said he discussed with Harb the work he has undertaken in line with international efforts to promote better human rights, especially in the field of labor.

“I welcomed his move to implement the new law that would facilitate the entry of some Palestinian refugees into the labor market” and attempts to improve conditions of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon, Williams said.