UNIFIL – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 11 July 2000 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to inform you that the Lebanese Government hereby requests the Security Council to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which expires on 31 July 2000, for a further interim period of six months, on the basis of the provisions of Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) and in view of the fact that the continued deployment of UNIFIL represents the international community’s commitment to the restoration of Lebanon’s full sovereignty and territorial integrity, as set out in Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978).

Lebanon hereby calls for the release of the Lebanese who have been detained for years in Israeli jails without due process of law, in defiance of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and related Protocols.

The Government of Lebanon avails itself of this opportunity to pay tribute to the UNIFIL Command, administrators, troops and troop-contributing countries for their noble efforts and sacrifices made in the cause of the implementation of its mandate.

Furthermore, the Government of Lebanon wishes to express to you its deep appreciation for your tireless efforts, which contribute to the valuable presence of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the Security Council.