New York

08 September 2006

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on deployment of an interim naval task force off the Lebanese coast

Further to discussions on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) with the Government of Lebanon as well as the Governments of France, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom, the Secretary-General welcomes the imminent deployment of an interim naval task force off the Lebanese coast to assist in securing the maritime border and maritime entry points of Lebanon.

The interim maritime task force will remain in place until the maritime component of UNIFIL is fully assembled and deployed in the coming weeks.