(30 Mar 2007) SHOTLIST
1. Airport arrival, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon
2. Secretary General welcomed by Lebanese Education Minister, Khaled Kabbani, pair walking off
3. Cutaway, cedar wood plaque
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary General:
"As Secretary-General of the United Nations, Lebanon is one of my priorities, especially the successful implementation of Security Council resolution 1701."
5. Cutaway camera
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary General:
"I hope the efforts of Lebanese and Arab leaders to mediate will continue. We have seen how easily political tensions can spill into violence, all sides will lose from such an escalation. I believe that dialogue and compromise are the only ways to stability and national unity "
7. Ban leaving
STORYLINE:
The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, arrived in Beirut on Thursday for his first visit to Lebanon, since taking up the post.
He flew in after attending the Arab League meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for an official two-day visit.
Ban said he was pleased with the implementation of UN Security Council 1701 and the commitment of the Lebanese government to the resolution, which helped bring an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah last August.
"Lebanon is one of my priorities, especially the successful implementation of Security Council resolution 1701", he said.
The visit follows urgings from Arab leaders to Lebanon's political leaders to resolve the political tension in the country before it leads to more confrontations in the streets of Beruit and other cities.
"We have seen how easily political tensions can spill into violence, all sides will lose from such an escalation. I believe dialogue and compromise are the only ways to stability and national unity", he said.
The secretary general was met at the airport by education minister Khaled Kabbani, with the UN envoy in Lebanon Geir Pederson and UN legal chief Nicolas Michel.
On Friday, he is due to meet prime minister Fuad Saniora, parliament chairman Nabih Berri and Saad Hariri, son of the murdered former premier Rafik Hariri and leader of the parliamentary majority in Lebanon.
The Secretary General will also visit the headquarters of UNIFIL (UN Interim Force In Lebanon) at Nakoura, south Lebanon.
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