Vietnam hails positive developments over the past three months in Lebanon , while remains concerned about a number of unresolved issues that hinder an agreement on a permanent ceasefire between the two parties.

Vietnamese Ambassador and deputy representative to the UN Security Council Bui The Giang made the remarks at a UNSC consultation meeting on the implementation of Resolution 1701 on Lebanon in New York on July 8.

He said he is pleased to see “the generally stable situation in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)’s area of operations, the progress in the continued tripartite cooperation between the parties and UNIFIL to visibly mark the Blue Line, the handover to UNIFIL of technical strike data for the cluster bombs used by Israeli military forces in the 2006 war, and the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria.”

The Vietnamese diplomat took the occasion to congratulate the Lebanese people on the successful conduct of the parliamentary elections in early June and call upon all parties in Lebanon to build on the momentum of reconciliation and unity recorded thus far in the National Dialogue to proceed with an early and smooth formation of a new Government.

Regarding the unresolved issues, Giang urged the parties to translate their commitment into concrete and tangible steps to implement Resolution 1701 on Lebanon .

“We reiterate our support for the collective efforts by the United Nations, the League of Arab States, regional countries and the international community aimed at a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions, of which respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon represents an integral part,” said the Vietnamese ambassador./.