By Beyza Binnur Donmez
GENEVA (AA) - UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Thursday congratulated Joseph Aoun for his election as Lebanon's president.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert "welcomes the election of a president as a long-awaited first step towards overcoming Lebanon’s political and institutional vacuum and providing the Lebanese people with the functioning state institutions they deserve," her office said in a statement.
"A prime minister must be designated and a government formed without delay. The tasks ahead of the Lebanese State are too monumental to waste any more time," she said. "Now is the moment for each and every decision-maker to put the interest of Lebanon above all personal or political considerations."
The election of a president offers renewed hope and an opportunity to pave the way for progress toward consolidating the cessation of hostilities and preserving the country’s security and stability, including strengthening state authority across Lebanon and advancing comprehensive and sustainable reforms, according to the coordinator's office.
It said the UN "looks forward to working with President Aoun and relevant authorities to support Lebanon as it takes meaningful and measurable steps in this direction."