Plumbly Meets Salam, Urges All Parties to 'Engage Positively' with him to Form New Govt.

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly stressed on Wednesday the international community's keenness on the formation of an “effective government in Lebanon.”

He urged after holding talks with Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam “all parties to engage positively with him to ensure that a government is in place without further delay.”

“Lebanon is passing through a dangerous time and the security, humanitarian and economic challenges are very great,” he noted.

“The United Nations is engaged in assisting Lebanon on all of these fronts,” he stressed.

“The process of government formation is an entirely Lebanese one, but obviously we are keenly interested in its success and I am encouraged of what I have heard from the prime minister-designate about the efforts now underway,” added Plumbly.

Since his appointment in April, Salam has faced difficulties in forming a new cabinet due to the conditions and counter-conditions placed by the rival March 8 and 14 camps.