UN Sec-Gen's presser after talks with Lebanese leaders

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST : POOL 1. Mid of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Druse leader Walid Jumblatt shaking hands then sitting down for talks 2. Mid of Jumblatt 3. Various of Ban and Jumblatt at meeting 4. Ban shaking hands with former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel, pan of officials walking into room 5. Mid of Ban and Gemayel shaking hands for photographers 6. Various of Ban and Gemayel during meeting 7. Wide of meeting AP Television 8. Wide of news conference 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nation Secretary-General: "I have emphasised to all my counterparts that it is imperative that the parliament must convene to elect a new president. The election has to take place on time in accordance with constitutional rules and without foreign interference and respecting the relevant security council resolutions." 10. Cutaway photographer 11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nation's Secretary-General: "This is the time for all Lebanese leaders to put the national interest above personal sectarian interest. I leave Beirut with a sense of hope and I appeal to all leaders in Lebanon to do the right things and I wish them all good luck in the best interest of their country, the region and international peace and security." 12. Wide of news conference 13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nation's Secretary-General: "UNIFIL is here to stay as long as it is necessary. The mandate of UNIFIL is to carry out their task for the peace and security in Lebanon." 14. Cutaway camera 15. Ban leaving STORYLINE: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon once again urged Lebanese politicians on Friday to elect a new president on time and without foreign interference, warning that the country currently stands at a critical crossroads. Ban, speaking at a news conference he held at Beirut airport after meeting separately with the leaders of opposing Lebanese factions, suggested that any new president should be committed to the implementation of United Nations resolutions. "The election has to take place on time in accordance with constitutional rules and without foreign interference and respecting the relevant security council resolutions," Ban said, in an apparent reference to Syria, which has been accused by the United States and Lebanon's anti-Syrian parliament majority of blocking the election. Damascus has denied the allegation. He called on the new president to be selected with the broadest possible support and said it was time "for all Lebanese leaders to put the national interest above personal sectarian interest". "I appeal to all leaders in Lebanon to do the right things and I wish them all good luck in the best interest of their country, the region and international peace and security," Ban said. During the news conference, Ban also referred to the role of UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) and reiterated the force's commitment "to stay as long as it is necessary." "The mandate of UNIFIL is to carry out their task for the peace and security in Lebanon," Ban said. Ban spoke after meeting on Friday with the head of the influential Maronite Catholic Church, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, and politicians from the ruling anti-Syrian coalition. He also met with Druse leader Walid Jumblatt - head of the Socialist Progressive Party - and officials of the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group. Parliament is supposed to pick a new president before the term of current President Emile Lahoud ends on November 24. But the Western-backed ruling coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition have been unable to agree on a candidate - sparking Lebanon's most serious political rift since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. Ban warned of the possible repercussions of such a power vacuum. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/274d6d687e6cf1dcba62f47ac21990bf Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork