Lebanon

Statement by the President of the Security Council, Ambassador James B. Cunningham, Acting United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on UNIFIL, at the Security Council Stake-Out,

Ambassador Cunningham: Good morning -- it’s just past morning. Let me draw on some elements that will

describe where we went in our discussion this morning on UNIFIL and then I’ll try to answer any questions you

have.

Members of the Council were briefed by the Secretariat on the interim report by the Secretary General on

UNIFIL. Members are disturbed by the reports of land, sea and air violations and serious breaches of the

withdrawal line -- which is known in the parlance as the "Blue Line."

Members reiterated their call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to respect the Blue Line and to fulfill

the commitments they have given to the Security Council fully to respect the withdrawal line identified by the

United Nations and endorsed by the Security Council, most recently in Council Resolution 1337.

Council members recalled their June 18, 2000 decision to endorse the Secretary General’s conclusion that Israel

had fully withdrawn all of its forces from Lebanon in fulfillment of Council Resolution 425.

Council members were also deeply concerned by assertions that the Blue Line is not valid in the She’ba farms

area. This area is governed by UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, which are applicable to the

occupied Syrian Golan.

Members of the Council commended UNIFIL, the Secretary General and his Personal Representative in

Lebanon for their efforts to restore peace and security in the region. Council members understood the concerns of

the government of Lebanon to avoid sudden changes to UNIFIL that might upset regional security. There was

general support for the Secretary General’s intention, taking the government of Lebanon concerns into account, to

carry out a gradual, phased and prudent reconfiguration of UNIFIL, in light of circumstances on the ground, and

the need for UNIFIL to carry out its mandate and to monitor the Blue Line more effectively.

The Council will keep this process under review and take further steps as necessary until peace is restored.

As Council President, that encapsulates our discussion on UNIFIL. The next step on UNIFIL will be to renew

the mandate in July.

[Ambassador Cunningham then answered several questions from reporters in his national capacity. Those

remarks are transcribed in USUN Press Release #65(01).]

Reporter: Back to Lebanon, …[inaudible question related to force numbers in the Secretary General’s report on

UNIFIL].

Ambassador Cunningham: Well, he has proposed an approach that stretches out over the next year and a half.

We’ll take specific decisions on the recommendations when we come to renew the mandate. There was a general

endorsement of the intent of his proposal to carry out this gradual and phased approach but also recognition that

the situation on the ground might change over time and we need to keep the two things in mind as we go forward.

[Ambassador Cunningham answered further questions in his national capacity.]