UNIFIL says Graziano was “misquoted” in US
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Tuesday clarified comments made by the Commander of UN peacekeeping force Claudio Graziano at a news conference at the UN”s New York headquarters last Thursday over the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Resolution 1701 was passed in August 2006 to end a 34-day war between Lebanon and Israel. It mandated UNIFIL, which has been present in Lebanon since 1978, to expand its activities to monitor the cease-fire, ensure there was no arms smuggling south of the Litani River, and to support to the Lebanese Armed Forces in South Lebanon.
Israel”s Ambassador to the UN Danny Carmon protested to what he called the UNIFIL commander”s assertion that Israel was the chief violator of the resolution, Israel inews Web site Ynet reported on Saturday. Carmon also complained Graziano had not mentioned Hizbullah”s alleged rearmament in areas patrolled by UNIFIL, demanding the force report all cases of alleged weapon smuggling to Hizbullah from Iran and Syria.
UNIFIL deputy spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said on Tuesday that Graziano”s comments regarding Israel had been "misquoted."
Graziano had only made reference to the fact that "Hizbullah was one of the parties that had agreed to" the resolution, along with Israel, said Tenenti.
According to a UNIFIL statement sent to The Daily Star on Tuesday, Graziano said during the news conference:"While the mission had arrested some people in possession of handguns, it had never seen any evidence of weapons moving South of the Litani River."
At the news conference, Graziano said that UNIFIL treated Lebanon and Israel equally. "We are at an equal distance from both ends," he said. "Despite all the media propaganda, which is normal in the region, I have felt that both Israel and Hizbullah are comfortable with our performance, and success at preserving peace and security between them at a moment when Lebanon is passing through difficult times," he said.