Graziano Meets Local Officials in Tibnin to Deal with Aftermath of Khirbet Selm Mishap
UNIFIL commander Maj. Gen. Claudio Graziano on Monday stressed the importance of maintaining "good relationship" with south Lebanese residents.
Graziano”s remarks came in a statement issued by UNIFIL following a meeting at the municipalitry of Tibnin in south-west Lebanon with local officials from neighboring villages and towns.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Lebanese army as well as MPs Ali Bazzi and Hasan Fadlallah.
"The entire command of UNIFIL, down to every soldier, is committed to upholding and strengthening the excellent relationship we have with the people with whom we share our daily lives here in south Lebanon," Granziano said.
He said that the focus of UNIFIL”s activity is on ensuring full respect for, and preventing violations of, the relevant provisions of Security Council resolution 1701. "UNIFIL acts in a transparent way and keeps U.N. Headquarters and the parties fully and factually informed on all the developments on the ground and any violations of resolution 1701."
The statement said Graziano also discussed the Khirbet Selm incident which took place July 18 when a UNIFIL unit was confronted by local villagers during a visit related to the joint investigations by UNIFIL and Lebanese troops into the explosions that occurred in the area four days earlier.
Graziano clarified the way in which UNIFIL operates in pursuance of its mandate under U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.
"We must remember two fundamental facts that have been established over all these years of UNIFIL”s presence in south Lebanon: One, that we are here for the people of south Lebanon. Two, that the U.N. Security Council has given us a mandate that we must implement on the ground," Graziano said.
There is no contradiction in these two fundamentals, he said.
"Our respect for the communities that are hosting us and their understanding of UNIFIL”s obligations towards its mandated tasks, are mutually reinforcing impulses that drive our mission. We are determined to keep it that way and to further strengthen security and stability in south Lebanon in strategic partnership with the Lebanese Armed Forces."