U.N.: No Modification of UNIFIL”s Mandate Despite Presence of Arms
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy said Wednesday that he did not expect any modification of UNIFIL”s mandate despite the presence of weapons in its area of operations.
During a press conference held in New York along with Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Susana Malcorra, Le Roy said that he was not requesting any modification of the U.N. peacekeepers” mission in south Lebanon.
He told reporters that UNIFIL”s main challenges remained maintaining security and pressing ahead with the search for weapons, with the cooperation of the Lebanese army.
While there had been sporadic incidents in southern Lebanon, he said that, since 2006, there had not been a single casualty along the U.N.-drawn Blue Line.
In addition, the Lebanese army was now fully established south of the Litani River, Le Roy told reporters.
He also noted that UNIFIL”s withdrawal plan for the border village of Ghajar had been accepted by the Lebanese government and he believed that Israel was seriously debating the plan.