Security Council to Extend UNIFIL Mandate on August 27
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon will ask the Security Council in the next few days to extend the mandate of peacekeepers in south Lebanon for one year without amendment to the mission”s Rules of Engagement.
Well-informed diplomatic sources told al-Mustaqbal newspaper that Lebanon was informed that the Security Council session aimed at issuing a resolution on UNIFIL”s mandate will be held on August 27.
That session will be preceded by another meeting by experts to study the French-sponsored draft resolution.
The newspaper said Tuesday that Ban will send a letter to the Council chair this month, recommending the extension of UNIFIL”s mandate until August 31, 2010.
The sources ruled out any amendment to the Rules of Engagement as demanded by Israel following the explosion of an alleged Hizbullah arms cache in Khirbet Selm.
Al-Mustaqbal said that although there is no international willingness to change the Rules of Engagement, the latest incidents in the south will be heavily mentioned in the articles of the resolution which will call for the full implementation of resolution 1701.