UNIFIL mandate – Letter from Lebanon

LETTER DATED 27 MARCH 1985 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF

LEBANON TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

I have the honour to inform you that the Government of Lebanon has decided to request the Security Council to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which expires on 19 April 1985, for a further period of six months, on the basis of the provisions of Security Council resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 501 (1982), 508 (1982), 509 (1982) and 520 (1982) and of other relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council.

The Lebanese Government, while calling for the implementation of the above-mentioned resolutions, would like to reaffirm the terms of the mandate of UNIFIL as laid down in resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978), the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations contained in document S/12611 of 19 March 1978 and resolution 501 (1982).

Accordingly, the Lebanese Government is not requesting any change in the mandate of the Interim Force, since that mandate, as laid down in the above-mentioned resolutions, is adequate, and since those resolutions require the withdrawal of all Israeli forces beyond the internationally recognized boundaries of Lebanon and the extension of the exclusive authority of the Lebanese State over all the territories evacuated by Israel.

Lebanon's understanding of the role which the United Nations Interim Force is required to play in Lebanon is as follows:

1. The UNIFIL area of deployment extends from the Litani River southward as far as the internationally recognized boundaries of Lebanon.

2. The whole of this region should be under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese army, assisted in its task solely by the United Nations Force, since Lebanon is not prepared to assign any role to any military force which is not a legal force.

3. Lebanon is in no circumstance prepared to accept the creation of what is known as "buffer zones" or of "security cordons" of any kind.

4. The area of deployment of the United Nations Force should not become a disengagement zone between illegal armed forces within Lebanese territory.

5. The posts which the United Nations forces are to occupy will be determined by agreement with the Lebanese Government alone.

In this connection, I should like to assure you that my Government remains persuaded that, in spite of the difficult conditions in south Lebanon, the presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon continues to be necessary and constitutes an important factor of stability and an international commitment to the upholding of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon.

My Government takes this opportunity to pay tribute and express its gratitude to UNIFIL and the countries which have sent contingents for their effortss and sacrifices in serving the cause of peace in Lebanon.

I should be grateful if you would arrange for the text of this letter to be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed)  M. Rachid FAKHOURY

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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