Paris backs UN mission on syrian border

 

France on Monday expressed its support for United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon”s proposal to send an international mission to the Lebanese side of the Lebanon-Syria border and said it expected “concrete initiatives” against arms smuggling by Syria.

 

In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, France said it had taken note of the sixth UN report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which it described as “very important” in view of the regional situation.

 

“Like the UN secretary general, we examine with concern the extent to which the political crisis in Lebanon hinders the implementation of this resolution,” France said, adding that it welcomed any progress in putting the South under the rule of the Lebanese government in coordination with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon deployed at the Lebanese-Israeli border.

 

The French Foreign Ministry also called upon the Lebanese to refrain from any “provocative acts” and to respect the Lebanese government and the UN-marked Blue Line separating the country from Israel. It also said the release of Israeli detainees by Hizbullah was a priority.

 

France said it was willing to support Ban”s proposed project by sending additional French forces to southern Lebanon to control the border. “We still expect to see concrete initiatives by Syria,” who the Foreign Ministry said bore particular responsibility in this regard.