UN force to remain in Lebanon
The 15,000-strong multinational force will continue to monitor southern Lebanon for the next year [AFP]25 August 2007
The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN's peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, which was expanded after last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The mission of the 15,000-strong United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) was extended to August 31, 2008 after resolution 1778 was unanimously passed on Friday.
The resolution commended Unifil, "whose deployment together with the Lebanese Armed Forces has helped to establish a new strategic environment in southern Lebanon."
The multinational force, first deployed in 1978, now monitors a buffer-zone keeping apart the Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters.
The peacekeeping force also aims to help Lebanon's army forces take control of southern Lebanon and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians.
Progress sought
The new resolution appealed "to all parties concerned to respect the cessation of hostilities" and the Blue Line, which demarcates the Lebanon-Israel border.
The council also called for more progress toward achieving a permanent ceasefire and a long term solution to the border problems along the Blue Line.
The resolution stressed "the need to address the causes of the conflict" along the border, including Hezbollah's continued hold on two Israeli soldiers who were captured during a cross-border raid in July 2006.
The Security Council appealed to Lebanon's government to continue efforts to assert its control over southern Lebanon in order to prevent weapons from being moved into the area.
Israel and the US allege that Hezbollah has continued to receive arms shipments from across the border with Syria, while Unifil says disarming various armed groups is not within its mandate.
Smuggling alleged
Alejandro Wolff, deputy US representative to the UN, said "there are unauthorised armed elements and weapons in southern Lebanon," citing a bomb attack against Unifil and a rocket attack on northern Israel last month as examples.
No claim of responsibility has been made for either incident, but Israeli security services believe Palestinian fighters in south Lebanon launched the rockets on northern Israel.
Despite the unanimous passage of the resolution, the UN's Russian delegate criticised Wolff for his comments on the alleged smuggling of arms into Lebanon from Syria, which has a good relationship with Moscow.
Such issues "do not relate to this text which we have just adopted," Igor Scherbak said.
Wolff later told reporters his point was relevant because smuggled arms were used against Unifil when they were attacked.
Source
The UN Security Council has extended the mandate of the UN's peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, which was expanded after last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The mission of the 15,000-strong United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) was extended to August 31, 2008 after resolution 1778 was unanimously passed on Friday.
The resolution commended Unifil, "whose deployment together with the Lebanese Armed Forces has helped to establish a new strategic environment in southern Lebanon."
The multinational force, first deployed in 1978, now monitors a buffer-zone keeping apart the Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters.
The peacekeeping force also aims to help Lebanon's army forces take control of southern Lebanon and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians.
Progress sought
The new resolution appealed "to all parties concerned to respect the cessation of hostilities" and the Blue Line, which demarcates the Lebanon-Israel border.
The council also called for more progress toward achieving a permanent ceasefire and a long term solution to the border problems along the Blue Line.
The resolution stressed "the need to address the causes of the conflict" along the border, including Hezbollah's continued hold on two Israeli soldiers who were captured during a cross-border raid in July 2006.
The Security Council appealed to Lebanon's government to continue efforts to assert its control over southern Lebanon in order to prevent weapons from being moved into the area.
Israel and the US allege that Hezbollah has continued to receive arms shipments from across the border with Syria, while Unifil says disarming various armed groups is not within its mandate.
Smuggling alleged
Alejandro Wolff, deputy US representative to the UN, said "there are unauthorised armed elements and weapons in southern Lebanon," citing a bomb attack against Unifil and a rocket attack on northern Israel last month as examples.
No claim of responsibility has been made for either incident, but Israeli security services believe Palestinian fighters in south Lebanon launched the rockets on northern Israel.
Despite the unanimous passage of the resolution, the UN's Russian delegate criticised Wolff for his comments on the alleged smuggling of arms into Lebanon from Syria, which has a good relationship with Moscow.
Such issues "do not relate to this text which we have just adopted," Igor Scherbak said.
Wolff later told reporters his point was relevant because smuggled arms were used against Unifil when they were attacked.
Source
Labels: Lebanon, United Nations
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 10:36 PM
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