TEHRAN (FNA)- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a message to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif demanded Tehran to help expedite election of the new president in Lebanon.
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly submitted Ban's message to Zarif's deputy Hossein Amir Abdollahian in a meeting in Tehran on Sunday.

During the meeting, Plumbly thanked Iran for its role in supporting the stability and security in Lebanon, and briefed the Iranian deputy foreign minister on the latest developments in Beirut.

Amir Abdollahian, for his part, said that Iran has always supported stability, security and national unity of Lebanon, and stressed, "We will do our best to help to the political stability and security of Lebanon."

A presidential election was held in Lebanon on April 23, 2014. No candidate reached a two-thirds majority vote in the first round and consequent rounds failed to gain a quorum. A twelfth round is scheduled for September, 2014.

Earlier today, Iranian Supreme Leader's senior advisor Ali Akbar Velayati voiced Tehran's support for the upcoming presidential election in Lebanon, and said the Islamic Republic will respect people's choice for president in the Arab country.

"Iran approves whoever they (the Lebanese people) elect as president and we will support any popular government which would enjoy the support of the majority of the Lebanese people and that country's parliament," Velayati said in a meeting with Plumbly in Tehran.

Velayati pointed to Iran's role in maintaining stability and tranquility of Lebanon, and said, "Iran has always supported territorial integrity of Lebanon and it lays emphasis on peaceful coexistence of different political factions in that country."

Meanwhile, Velayati referred to the age-old Iran-Lebanon relations, and said, "Tehran closely monitors the developments in Lebanon."

The UN official, for his part, briefed Velayati on the latest developments in Beirut, and said he would like to hear Velayati's views about how to maintain peace and security across Lebanon.

Iran and Lebanon enjoy cordial relations and have further expanded these ties in recent years.

The two sides have exchanged several delegations of high-ranking officials in the last three years.

By Fars News Agency

 

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