UN interim force in Lebanon gets six-month extension

Condemning all acts of violence and expressing great concern about the serious breaches and violations along the withdrawal line between Lebanon and Israel, the United Nations Security Council today extended for six months the mandate of the UN force monitoring the situation in southern Lebanon.

Unanimously adopting a new resolution, the Council endorsed Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s recent recommendation to extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which was to expire today, until 31 January 2004.

That recommendation was included in the Secretary-General’s report on UNIFIL released last week to the Council, which stressed that although almost six months have passed since the last violent exchange across the Blue Line – the longest period of relative calm since Israel withdrew from Lebanon some three years ago – tension between the two parties nevertheless “remains high, and the relative calm…is an uneasy one.”

According to the report, the most significant sources of tension are the persistent Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and the Hezbollah anti-aircraft fire directed at Israeli villages. Mr. Annan warns that “both the air incursions and the fire violations carry substantial potential for escalation.” Recommending the six-month extension, he says UNIFIL would continue to contribute to the restoration of peace and security. It would also liase with both Lebanon and Israel to maintain calm.

The resolution adopted by the Council today expresses great concern about he serious breaches and the air, sea and land violations of the withdrawal line and urges the parties to put an end to those violations and to abide scrupulously by their obligation to respect the safety of UNIFIL and other UN personnel.

Welcoming the steps taken by the Government of Lebanon to ensure the return of its effective authority throughout the south of the country, including the deployment of Lebanese armed forces, the Council called on Beirut to extend those measures and to do its utmost to ensure a calm environment throughout the south.

Applauding progress in de-mining efforts and taking note of communications to the Government of Lebanon and UNIFIL of maps and information on the location of mines, the Council stressed the necessity to provide the Government and the mission with any additional maps and records in that regard.