STORY: UN chief urges Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territory during Beirut visit
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 18, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 19, 2025
LENGTH: 00:03:25
LOCATION: Beirut
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Antonio Guterres' visit to Lebanon
2. SOUNDBITE (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General
3. various of Antonio Guterres meeting with representatives in Lebanon

STORYLINE:

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory within the agreed timeframe.
   
Guterres made such remarks at a press conference held in Beirut to conclude his two-day visit to the country.

SOUNDBITE (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General
"Our total support to the president, to the future government, knowing that now it would be possible to consolidate the Lebanese institutions and it would be possible to create the conditions for the Lebanese state to fully protect its citizens, and it would be possible with the withdrawal of the Israeli forces and with the presence of the Lebanese army in the whole of the Lebanese territories, it would be possible to open a new chapter of peace. And I know that the Lebanese are extremely dynamic, extremely resilient and extremely courageous, and I know that as soon as the conflict ends, the reconstruction begins, and I want to express our total support and our will to mobilize, to fully mobilize the international community in order to provide Lebanon with all the support for what we believe it would be a speedy recovery of this country, making it again the center of Middle East."
   
"Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, and the Lebanese state must have full control of weapons throughout Lebanese territory," he added.
   
He emphasized the importance of implementing UN Resolution 1701 in all its dimensions.
   
"The United Nations -- including through the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and UNIFIL -- is committed to supporting the parties uphold their obligations under resolution 1701 and ensuring that the cessation of hostilities holds," he said.
   
"This would lay a platform for the full implementation of the resolution and its ultimate goal, a permanent ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel," he noted.
   
Responding to a question about guarantees for maintaining the ceasefire in Lebanon, Guterres said he is convinced that the agreement that was established between Hezbollah and Israel will be respected.
   
He called on both parties to ensure commitments to the ceasefire are realized, adding that the newly established mechanism should be used to address outstanding issues.
   
The UN chief also vowed to support Lebanon throughout its reconstruction process.
   
"Working hand-in-hand with Lebanese authorities and partners, the United Nations will intensify our support for recovery and reconstruction across Lebanon," he said.
   
He also praised the missions conducted by UNIFIL troops in Lebanon, saying they carried out more than 730 missions in close cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces, facilitating their redeployment to more than 50 positions.
   
He added that UNIFIL has also facilitated 39 humanitarian missions -- in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Lebanese Red Cross, various UN entities, and NGOs.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut.
(XHTV)