Security Council Renews UNIFIL Mandate
The U.N. Security Council extended Thursday the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) without amending its jurisdictions.
The council issued Resolution 1884 which was drafted by France and endorsed by all 15 member states.
The resolution extends UNIFIL”s mandate, which expires at end of the month, till August 31 2010 but does not introduce amendments to the peacekeeping force”s powers.
UNIFIL is responsible for the monitoring of the 2006 ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and the implementation of Resolution 1701.
The resolution praised UNIFIL”s "positive role that helped the Lebanese army”s deployment and the establishment a new strategic climate in the south."
It called on "all concerned sides to respect the ceasefire and the Blue Line." It also called for "full cooperation with the Security Council and U.N. secretary general in order to reach a permanent ceasefire and a long term solution, as stated by Resolution 1701."