Brussels, 06/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 3 January, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton condemned the terrorist car bomb attack which took place the previous day in Haret Hreik - a district in the south of the Lebanese capital. The attack left at least four people dead and several dozen wounded. On 27 December, a car bomb killed former Lebanese finance minister Mohamed Chatah and several other people in the centre of Beirut. Ashton condemned this attack. “These repeated acts of political violence and terror seek to undermine the peace and stability of Lebanon; they should not be allowed to prevail. A determined political response is called for, to oppose the language of violence”, Ashton added, reiterating her “deepest concern” at the spiralling violence in Lebanon
On 27 December, Ashton had urged “Lebanon's political leaders and the Lebanese people to put aside all differences and join forces - as a priority and without delay - to restore security in the country”. She reiterated her call for the formation of a new government capable of addressing the many challenges Lebanon is facing.
Ashton stressed that the EU would continue to support the people of Lebanon and the political and security institutions in order to overcome the challenges they face, and she reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the unity, stability, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. (CG/transl.fl)