DATE=5/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LEBANON / U-N (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262838
BYLINE=EDWARD YERANIAN
DATELINE=BEIRUT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen is
continuing his mission to strengthen and re-deploy U-N
peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon. As Edward
Yeranian reports from Beirut, UNIFIL troops are
beginning to patrol areas of southern Lebanon where
Hezbollah guerillas have rushed in to fill a power
vacuum left by the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
TEXT: Mr. Larsen stressed that his job is to confirm
Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and oversee
redeployment of U-N peacekeepers along the
international border.
U-N resolutions dating back to 1978 stipulate that
peacekeepers be deployed once clear confirmation is
made that Israel has withdrawn.
Mr. Larsen told reporters the most urgent task facing
the United Nations is to increase the UNIFIL troop
strength and assure the safety of the peacekeepers.
/// LARSEN ACT ONE ///
The redeployment of UNIFIL will also require an
increase in troop strength up to just over 79-
hundred peacekeepers. As I am sure you saw, the
secretary-general made very clear his concern
for the security and safety of peacekeepers in
southern Lebanon.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// Eighty U-N peacekeepers have been
killed and 35 have been wounded in the 22 years since
UNIFIL first began its mission in southern Lebanon.
/// END OPT ///
Mr. Larsen said the United Nations also must determine
that all weapons belonging to Israel and its former
South Lebanon Army militia have been rounded up.
/// LARSEN ACT TWO ///
I understand from President Lahoud that the
captured weapons are being handed over to the
government. This is a very significant
indication of the return of the effective
authority of the Lebanese government in the
area.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Larsen repeated that the primary goal of the U-N
mission is to make sure the Lebanese government re-
establishes its authority in the recently evacuated
region of southern Lebanon.
/// LARSEN ACT THREE ///
It is very important to the United Nations that
the government of Lebanon is moving so swiftly
to resume its responsibilities throughout the
formerly occupied area. I have watched on
television, not only the visits of the
president and the prime minister to the
liberated areas, but also of many other leaders,
and I've taken note that the government is
acting to ensure law and order in the area as
well.
/// END ACT ///
Lebanese government television showed pictures of
Lebanese police taking control of a number of villages
in the evacuated border area. The Lebanese government
has not yet made any clear decision about deploying
the army in that region. (Signed)
NEB/EY/JWH
26-May-2000 08:19 AM EDT (26-May-2000 1219 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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