The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Lebanon, Michael Williams, ensured that "the issue of demarcation of the maritime border between Lebanon and occupied Palestine forms a threat to stability in Lebanon and the region."

During the UN session held Thursday in the UN Security Council to discuss the report on the implementation of resolution 1701, Williams noted that "the Lebanese and "Israeli" parts send documents regarding the demarcation of their maritime boundary, but it is difficult for the N to push this issue forward, especially in the absence of diplomatic relations between the parties."

Williams urged Lebanon and the Zionist entity on the "search for oil and gas near their coasts despite the dispute over the maritime border between them," adding that "such differences are common, and companies will remain away of the disputed areas."

Williams clarified that "Lebanon is late about seven years in this area from "Israel", and it needs to pass a law opening the way for companies to begin the process of searching for oil and gas near the coast," stressing that "I can't express how much I would like to see the companies operating there for the benefit of the Lebanese people, I believe that this would be in itself an element of stability."

In a parallel context, Williams warned that "the political upheaval in Syria, hit by months of opposition protests, is weighing heavily on neighboring Lebanon where it risks sparking inter-religious clashes."

"There is a great worry in Lebanon about this," said Williams, who raised the potential for "confessional clashes in Lebanon."
"What comes after (in Syria) worries in Lebanon," he added quoting a "March 14" official as saying "there is no interest to Christians in the fall of the Syrian regime."

Williams stressed, however, that the situation remained calm along the U.N.-drawn Blue Line separating southern Lebanon from the Zionist entity.

"Remarkably, despite tensions and despite some incidents, that resolution has held very well," he said.

"While the cessation of hostilities has held well, there is no movement towards a ceasefire."

Williams said "the time was right for a dialogue, a process to discuss the questions of arms, not only Hizbullah."