Ban Recommends Extension of UNIFIL Mandate without Amendments
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recommended that the mission of U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon be extended for another year without any amendment to their mandate.
In a letter to the Security Council president for this month, British Representative Sir John Sawers, Ban said the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) which ends August 31 should be extended in response to a request made by Lebanese Caretaker Premier Fouad Saniora.
Ban said the situation in south Lebanon will remain "fragile" until a permanent ceasefire is reached.
The U.N. chief also described the explosion of an alleged arms cache in Khirbet Selm a violation of Security Council resolution 1701. He said until now there is no proof that the weapons were smuggled to the area of UNIFIL”s operations after the adoption of 1701 in the summer of 2006.
Ban added information suggests that the depot was under Hizbullah”s control. He urged Lebanese Armed Forces to intensify efforts with UNIFIL”s assistance to prevent arms smuggling across the Litani river.
On Israel, the U.N. chief said the Jewish state”s army continues to occupy the northern part of Ghajar and a nearby area north of the Blue Line in violation of resolution 1701. He urged Israel to withdraw its forces from the area and stop violations of Lebanese airspace.
Thanking 31 countries that have contributed troops to UNIFIL, Ban said challenges still remain.
The Security Council will hold a session on August 27 to vote on the renewal of UNIFIL”s mandate.