Williams Meets Berri: Exploiting Resources in Territorial Waters Very Important Reason to Form Government

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams stressed on Friday the need for the formation of a functioning government “the sooner the better.”

He said after holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri: “There are many concerns of importance to ordinary Lebanese people that need to be addressed, irrespective of their confession or their politics.”

“The Speaker and I also discussed the developments in the Arab world, the changes that have been taking place and the emphasis that the Secretary General has put on the need for dialogue and reforms, whether in Syria or Libya or Bahrain and to refrain from violent responses to legitimate expressions of popular aspirations,” he added.

“All governments need to respect basic human rights and to engage in dialogue,” Williams noted.

The meeting also addressed maritime issues and resources, reiterating the U.N.’s position that “Lebanon was fully entitled to take the necessary measures to explore and exploit such resources within its territorial waters.”

“This is one more reason, a very important reason, why a new government should be formed as soon as possible,” he stressed.