Lebanese President Emile Lahoud called yesterday for the international community's continued support for his country's campaign of reform. Speaking before the world leaders in the UN's 60th General Assembly, Lahoud said: "Lebanon will continue to look to the United Nations and the international community for their support of our government's wide and bold program of reforms. This interest in my country is one that exemplifies a world's support of freedom." Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is due to present his Cabinet's reform plan during a sideline conference at the World Summit grouping several members of the international community on September 19, and will appeal for economic aid in order to implement these reforms. Lahoud said the achievement of a politically secure world becomes reality only through world order based on a respect of the rule of international law and human rights and the implementation of legitimate resolutions. "In this regard, the Middle East remains an example of a region suffering from a failure to implement [internationally recognized] resolutions," he added.
Earlier in the day, Lahoud described his meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Friday as "excellent." Lahoud's comments came after a tete-a-tete meeting held with the top UN diplomat on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Sources close to Lahoud said the pair discussed several topics, including United Nations resolutions related to the Middle East and Lebanon, but refused to elaborate. Annan's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told The Daily Star the meeting focused on completing the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559.