Security Council Discusses Report on 1701
The Security Council is expected to discuss on Wednesday U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon”s report on the implementation of resolution 1701.
In the report, Ban urged Israel and Lebanon to "seize the moment" of relative calm and move closer to a permanent cease-fire.
Ban said "greater overall progress should have been achieved" since the adoption of the resolution in the summer of 2006.
Israel has repeatedly accused Hizbullah of rearming, and Ban said the Israeli government continues to report "that it has detailed information regarding significant breaches of the arms embargo across the Lebanese-Syrian border."
"Although the United Nations takes these claims seriously," he said, "it is not in a position to verify this information independently."
But Ban said he remains concerned about "the porous nature" of Lebanon”s border with Syria.
"I reiterate the need for the immediate and unconditional respect of the arms embargo on Lebanon," the U.N. chief said. "It must be observed fully and without exception. Regional parties, particularly those that maintain ties with Hizbullah and other groups in Lebanon, are obliged to abide fully by the arms embargo."
Ban again called on Israel to immediately halt all overflights of Lebanon and reiterated "with the utmost urgency" his call to Israel to provide data on cluster munitions fired during the 2006 war.
On a positive note, he welcomed the decision to establish diplomatic relations between Beirut and Damascus.