UN FORCE COMMANDER BRIEFS PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE ON SOUTHERN LEBANON

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri today discussed the security situation in the country's south, and developments relating to the Security Council resolution that helped to end the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah.

"I informed the Prime Minister-designate that we consider 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," Force Commander Major-General Claudio Graziano said in a statement following the meeting.

Resolution 1701 calls for, among other things, renewed respect for the Blue Line separating the Lebanese forces and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the disarming of militias and an end to arms smuggling.

Among the tasks entrusted to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is monitoring the cessation of hostilities; accompanying and supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces as they deploy throughout the south; and extending assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.

"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 endeavour towards implementation of resolution 1701," said Maj.-Gen. Graziano.

Following his meeting with Mr. Hariri last week, the top UN envoy for Lebanon said he hopes that the country's new Government, when formed, will renew its commitment to, and fully carry out, resolution 1701.

Michael Williams, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, noted areas of progress in this regard, including the ongoing process of demarcating the Blue Line and last year's exchange of prisoners and remains between Hizbollah and Israel. But he added that the overall objectives of resolution 1701 – a permanent ceasefire and lasting solution – are yet to be achieved.

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UN BLUE HELMETS INVESTIGATE SHOTS FIRED INTO LEBANON FROM ISRAELI SIDE OF DIVIDING LINE

UN BLUE HELMETS INVESTIGATE SHOTS FIRED INTO LEBANON FROM ISRAELI SIDE OF DIVIDING LINE
New York, Mar 3 2009 5:00PM

Shots were fired today into Lebanese territory from the Israeli side of the Line of Withdrawal in contravention of the United Nations resolution that helped end fighting between the countries two years ago, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports.

A team of UNIFIL blue helmets investigating the circumstances of the incident said that at least two of the 15 shots hit a wall 50 metres over the line separating Israeli and Lebanese forces in the area of El Adeisse.

The UNIFIL Force Commander, Major General Claudio Graziano, has been in contact with the Senior Commanders of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) on the matter, the Mission said.

There were no reported injuries, but a UN spokesperson told correspondents in New York that "This is a serious incident and a violation of Security Council resolution 1701," adding that UNIFIL has protested to the IDF.
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BELGIUM TAKES HELM OF COAST FLOTILLA FOR UN FORCE IN LEBANON

BELGIUM TAKES HELM OF COAST FLOTILLA FOR UN FORCE IN LEBANON
New York, Mar 2 2009 7:00PM

Belgium today took command of United Nations peacekeeping's first-ever maritime task force (MTF), which was deployed off the coast of Lebanon in 2006 to curtail arms smuggling following that year's war between Israel and Hizbollah.

At the handover ceremony, held on the flagship FS De Grass in the Port of Beirut, Major-General Claudio Graziano, Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), noted the progressive enhancement of operational cooperation between the MTF and the Lebanese Navy.

"In the process, UNIFIL's MTF and the Lebanese Navy have developed a constructive, professional relationship which is vital to the successful implementation of our mandate," he added.

Since the start of its operations, the MTF, which for the past year was headed by the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR), has hailed more than 22,000 ships and referred 240 suspicious vessels to the Lebanese authorities for further inspection.

So far 12 countries have contributed naval units to the MTF: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.
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