UNIFIL mandate – Press release (excerpts)

Prepared by Central News

    F R I D A Y    H I G H L I G H T S

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  *Secretary-General recommends  six-month extension  of the  United Nations

Mission in Lebanon.

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  United Nations  Secretary-General Kofi Annan  has recommended a  six-month

extension of  the United  Nations Interim  Force in  Lebanon (UNIFIL)  whose

mandate expires at the end of this month.

  In his  latest report to the  Security Council,  the SecretaryGeneral says

that during the past  six months, fighting in  south Lebanon continued at an

increased pace.   Mr.  Annan says  that the  situation in  the area  remains

volatile and dangerous with a heightened risk of escalation.

  The  Secretary-General  says  that  there  were  hostilities  between  the

Israeli Defence Forces  and its local  Lebanese auxiliary  on the one  hand,

and  armed elements who  have proclaimed   their  resistance against Israeli

occupation, on  the  other.   Regrettably,  he  adds, civilians  were  again

killed and  injured.  He  says that as before, UNIFIL did  its best to limit

the conflict and to protect the inhabitants.

  According to  Mr.  Annan, no  new  developments  emerged from  his  recent

contacts with the parties and others concerned  regarding the implementation

of Security Council resolution 425 (1978).  By that resolution, the  Council

set up  UNIFIL after  Israeli forces  invaded southern  Lebanon following  a

Palestinian commando raid in  Israel. The Council called  on Israel to cease

its military  action against  Lebanon's territorial  integrity and  mandated

UNIFIL to  confirm the withdrawal of  Israeli forces, restore  international

peace and   security and assist  the Lebanese  Government in re-establishing

its authority in the area.

  In  the  report,  the  Secretary-General  also  draws   attention  to  the

"serious" shortfall  in the  funding of  the Force.   At  present, he  says,

unpaid assessments amount to $112.9 million  which represents money owed  to

the  Member States  contributing  the  troops that  make up  the Force.   He

appeals to all Member  States to pay their assessments promptly and in  full

and to clear all remaining arrears.

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