The Phalange Party on Monday lauded President Michel Suleiman’s recent speech at the U.N. General Assembly, saying the president “stressed Lebanon’s commitment to international legitimacy and the Security Council resolutions.”

The party, however, criticized what it called “the multiplicity of Lebanon’s representation at the U.N. institutions during the current session, as it will be represented by the president, the premier (Najib Miqati), the foreign minister (Adnan Mansour) and Lebanon’s (permanent) envoy to the international organization” Nawwaf Salam.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that Lebanon is committed to the implementation of international resolutions, noting that Israel’s failure to respect them resulted in the formation of the Resistance.

He said while hosting Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi over a luncheon banquet in the southern town of Msayleh: “The Resistance will defend Lebanon against any aggression and we say to all sides that they should protect it rather than fear it.”

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over Lebanese accusations about Israel’s encroachment on Lebanese waters, saying that any unilateral action would harm all countries in the region, a U.N. source said.

The source told An Nahar daily published Monday that Ban told President Michel Suleiman during his visit to New York last week that the U.N. can play a role in the delineation of Lebanon’s maritime borders under a Security Council resolution.

Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday lashed out at a speech given by Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly, Saying it was filled with “contempt” and “grudge.”

“Hizbullah doesn’t preside over the U.N. Security Council nor do President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister (Najib Miqati), but Lebanon does the state that was slaughtered (by Israel) in 1996,” Berri said in a statement.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon encouraged on Thursday Lebanon to invest in its natural resources that are located in areas that are not under dispute, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

It revealed that Ban “surprised” the Lebanese delegation in New York by bringing up the issue of U.N. Security Council resolution 1559, especially regarding the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon.

President Michel Suleiman stated on Friday that Lebanon’s position at the United Nations Security Council on the developments in Syria “does not place it in a compromising position,” revealing that he encouraged Syrian President Bashar Assad to pave the way for democracy.

He told MTV in an interview: “I advised him against ignoring his people’s demands.”

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon reiterated his support for the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during talks with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting in New York.

Ban’s office said Thursday the U.N. secretary-general reiterated his call on the Lebanese government to implement all its obligations with regard to the tribunal, which was set up to try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s suspected assassins.

The prevention of conflicts requires the implementation of the binding resolutions issued by the U.N. Security Council, President Michel Suleiman said Thursday in New York, as Lebanon assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council.

Addressing the council in his capacity as its rotating chairman, Suleiman said “the issuance of Resolution 1701 by the Security Council was a necessary measure in order to stop the devastative war, and the Security Council should halt Israel’s threats and violations and force its withdrawal” from the occupied Lebanese territories.

President Michel Suleiman on Wednesday stressed Lebanon’s commitment to international legitimacy and the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was established in 2007 by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757 to try those responsible for the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

Speaking at the opening of the annual U.N. General Assembly summit of world leaders, Suleiman said: “According to its constitution, Lebanon is a democratic, parliamentary republic built upon freedom of expression and belief and its people is the source of authority.”

The March 14 General Secretariat criticized on Wednesday the government’s stalling practices, saying that they will only lead Lebanon to further crises that are being run by regional powers “that are not part of international legitimacy.”

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “Seeing as Lebanon is heading the United Nations Security Council, President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati should fulfill their pledges and completely commit to resolutions on Lebanon.”