Beirut (UNA-OIC) – Lebanese President General Michel Aoun met on Monday met with Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Jean-Pierre Lacroix at the Baabda Presidential Palace.
During the meeting, President Aoun confirmed Lebanon’s desire to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) without modifying its tasks.
“Lebanon desires to extend the mandate of international forces operating in Southern Lebanon, without any modifications in number and missions, because of the benefit in maintaining security and stability in the South,” Aoun told Lacroix.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the adoption of the UNIFIL budget on June 30, and noted that “Despite tensions surrounding the region, southern borders have been enjoying stability since the July 2006 war”.
The president praised the existing cooperation between the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces, reiterating his condemnation for Israeli air violations, especially the recent ones, through raids launched by Israeli air forces against Syrian territories.
Aoun considered, during the meeting attended by UNIFIL Commander in Lebanon Gen. Stefano Del Col and UN Special Coordinator in Lebanon Ms. Joanna Ronesca, that the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon is one of the exemplary and successful missions at the level of peacekeeping operations in the world.
He reaffirmed Lebanese commitment to implement UN Resolution 1701 in all aspects, calling on the United Nations to compel Israel to abide by the resolution.
