Press Release

Statement of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert

01 October 2024

  • Beirut, 1 October 2024: What we feared has materialized. With strikes throughout Lebanon, including in the heart of Beirut, and incursions across the Blue Line, violence is spiraling to dangerous heights.

 Every rocket and missile fired, every bomb dropped and every ground raid conducted pull the parties further from the ⁠vision set out in Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and the conditions needed for the safe return of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line. This cycle of violence will not end well - for anyone. A sliver of opportunity remains for diplomacy to succeed. The question now is whether it will be seized or squandered.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert

UNSCOL
UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon
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Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert is the current UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon. She brings to this position over 25 years of experience in diplomacy, international security and Middle East affairs. Prior to taking up her position in Lebanon, Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of UNAMI (2018-2024). Previously she was Minister of Defense of the Netherlands (2012-2017), a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (2010-2012), and a member of the European Parliament (2004-2010). Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert also worked for the European Commission in Belgium and Latvia, as well as for the City of Amsterdam and in the private sector. She is proficient in English, French and German and is a native Dutch speaker.

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UNSCOL
Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon

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