Miqati Urges Sarkozy to Keep French Troops as Part of UNIFIL

Premier Najib Miqati has reiterated his “strong willingness that France keeps its forces” as part of the UNIFIL mission and vowed to work on preventing further attacks on peacekeepers.

In a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Miqati said that Lebanon is keen on implementing U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and consolidating the ties between the Lebanese army and foreign troops.

On July 26, three French U.N. peacekeepers were wounded in a roadside bombing in the southern city of Sidon, and another three suffered hearing problems.

Nobody claimed responsibility for that attack, which targeted a UNIFIL jeep on the main highway linking Beirut to south Lebanon, where the 12,000-strong force is deployed.

In his letter, Miqati stressed that the government “will work on preventing such attacks,” and reiterated “our strong willingness to keep the French troops as part of the international forces in south Lebanon.”

The premier also thanked Sarkozy for “France’s continued support for Lebanon and its commitment to preserve its (Lebanon’s) independence and sovereignty.”

Sarkozy has warned Lebanon that Paris would consider pulling its troops from UNIFIL if it comes under attack again.

In a letter sent to President Michel Suleiman and Miqati, Sarkozy said: “If the July 26, 2011 attack takes place again then France would wonder whether there is any reason to keep its troops to confront the dangers that the host country is not dealing with appropriately.”

“It is important to take quick measures to guarantee the safety (of peacekeepers) particularly on the road that links the north to the south,” Sarkozy said.

The letter was dated August 3.

After the July 26 attack, Suleiman cabled Sarkozy stressing Lebanon’s keenness on the safety of UNIFIL troops.