Graziano tells Hariri situation in south “generally quiet”
The force commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Major General Claudio Graziano on Thursday described the situation in south Lebanon as “generally quiet.”
Graziano held talks on Thursday with Prime-Minister designate Saad Hariri at the latter’s residence in Beirut. “This is my first meeting with Mr. Saad Hariri as prime minister-designate. I briefed him on UNIFIL’s mission in pursuance of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and related developments in south Lebanon,” Graziano told reporters.
“I also updated him on the upcoming meeting of the UN Security Council next Thursday to consider the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate,” he added.
Graziano said he informed Hariri that UNIFIL considered the security situation in south Lebanon “as generally quiet and the parties reiterated their commitment to Resolution 1701 and to upholding the cessation of hostilities.”
UN Resolution 1701 put an end to the summer 2006 war with Israel.
“UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces are carrying out their regular operational activities and any incidents or violations are promptly addressed through the liaison channels of UNIFIL with the parties,” Graziano said.
“I stressed to Mr. Hariri the importance of the good cooperation we have with the Lebanese Armed Forces and the necessity of continued support of the government of Lebanon for our joint endeavor towards implementation of Resolution 1701,” he added.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday said his party stood ready for military confrontation with Israel but downplayed the probability of war in the near future.
Nasrallah’s speech came following a series of Israeli threats from Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that Tel Aviv would hold the Lebanese government responsible for any new attacks against Israel coming from its territory if the Shiite group were included in the cabinet.
However, the Hizbullah secretary general said the Israeli prime minister’s warnings only amounted to psychological warfare.