UNIFIL Commander Discusses with Berri, Salam Situation in the South
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano briefed on Friday Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Tammam Salam on UNIFIL's joint efforts with the Lebanese army to maintain calm and stability in the South and along the Blue Line.
Portlando discussed with the two officials in separate meetings the situation in UNIFIL’s area of operations and issues related to the implementation of UNIFIL’s mandate under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
“I was encouraged to hear from them very strong words of support for UNIFIL and the work we are doing on the ground, as well as reaffirmation of Lebanon’s commitment to the implementation of resolution 1701,” the UNIFIL commander said.
Resolution 1701, which ended the Hizbullah-Israel war in 2006, expanded the mandate of U.N. troops in the South, which was originally formed in 1978 after the outbreak of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.
It imposed a strict embargo on weapons destined for Lebanese or foreign militias in Lebanon, and pressed Israel to end violations of Lebanon's airspace and to withdraw from northern Ghajar.
Portlando also tackled with Berri and Salam the situation in southern Lebanon in light of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's report on the implementation of resolution 1701 that was deliberated at the Security Council on Wednesday.
He pointed out that he discussed with the two officials the last Tripartite meeting held at Ras Naqoura, which “plays an indispensable confidence building mechanism that has proved effective in containing incidents or violations and de-conflicting the situation at critical moments.”
The tripartite meetings between the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and senior Lebanese and Israeli officials are routinely held to discuss developments along the border.
Portlando hailed the Lebanese army's efforts to maintain calm along the Blue Line and to combat the security challenges that the country is facing.
H.K.
G.K.