SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF UN FORCE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for an extra year as it commended its role, in concert with the national armed forces, in creating a new strategic environment in the south of the country.

In resolution 1884, the Council welcomed "the expansion of coordinated activities between UNIFIL and the Lebanese armed forces and encourages further enhancement of this cooperation."

The 15-member reiterated its call on all concerned parties to respect the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah following their 2006 war, as well as the entirety of the Blue Line along their border.

UNIFIL, established in 1978, is tasked with ensuring that the area between the Blue Line and the Litani River is free of unauthorized weapons, personnel and assets, and it also cooperates with the Lebanese armed forces so they can fulfil their security responsibilities.

Today's resolution also welcomed UNIFIL's moves to implement Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.

Addressing reporters, Philip John Parham, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, said that unanimous adoption of the resolution extending the Force's mandate "demonstrates the Council's clear and strong support for the very valuable work UNIFIL is doing."
________________

LITTLE PROGRESS TOWARDS LASTING PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL, LEBANON, SAYS UN OFFICIAL

LITTLE PROGRESS TOWARDS LASTING PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL, LEBANON, SAYS UN OFFICIAL
New York, Mar 10 2009 7:00PM

Although the ceasefire is still in place, very little progress has been made on the Security Council resolution which helped end fighting between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the armed group Hizbollah two years ago, the top United Nations representative to Lebanon said today.

"The past months have witnessed the most serious violations by both parties of their obligations under [resolution] 1701 since it was adopted [in August 2006], but despite these violations the cessation of hostilities continues to hold," Michael Williams, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, told reporters in New York after briefing the Council.

He highlighted the continued cessation of hostilities, the longest period of stability that southern Lebanon and northern Israel have known in decades, and the healthy internal political situation in Lebanon in the run up to general elections in June as positive signs for long-term peace between the countries.

In addition, he pointed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria and moves towards reconciliation in the wider Arab world as having an "enormously positive effect on the ground" in Lebanon.

"The long-standing issue of prisoners and captives held by Hizbollah and Israel was, as you know, resolved last year," he added.

"However, there also many other issues within 1701 where very little progress has been achieved," Mr. Williams said.

The 2006 resolution called for renewed respect for the Blue Line separating the Lebanese forces and IDF, the disarming of militias and an end to arms smuggling, among other measures.

The Special Coordinator noted that although the process of national dialogue in Lebanon, under President Michel Suleiman, has contributed towards national stability, the question of the disarmament of armed groups is only making slow progress.

"You as journalists and of observers of conflict in very many countries, not just in the Middle East, know how difficult it is to take the weapons out of politics," Mr. Williams said. "I think that needs to be done. It needs to be a Lebanese-led process."

With regard to border control and border management, he said there had been some improvement with the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria and much closer coordination between the relevant authorities.

Although Lebanon had appointed a representative to the Joint Border Committee established between the two countries and sent an ambassador to Damascus, Syria had not done either yet, the Special Coordinator said.

Another issue Mr. Williams highlighted was the IDF's occupation of the northern part of the village of Ghajar, situated on Lebanon's border with the Golan.

He expressed hope that the formation of a new Israeli government following elections in February would lead to another IDF withdrawal from the village and progress on the issue of cluster bombs and munitions.
________________

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.
________________