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DATE=6/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LEBANON / U-N (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263223
BYLINE=EDWARD YERANIAN
DATELINE=BEIRUT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  United Nations special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen 
says Israel's military  is no  longer holding any 
positions inside Lebanon.  Edward Yeranian in Beirut 
reports Mr. Larsen now presents his findings to U-N 
Secretary-General Koffi Annan.
TEXT:  Mr. Larsen met for more than three hours with 
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to present his 
findings to the Lebanese government.  The U-N envoy 
told reporters later that he has  no  doubt Israel has 
withdrawn from all positions it once occupied inside 
Lebanon.
            /// LARSEN ACT ///
      Concerning Israel's continued presence in 
      Lebanese territory, as I've already stated 
      publicly, UNIFIL mobile patrols have determined 
      that  no  previously known (Israeli) I-D-F or S-
      L-A (militia) positions remain occupied.
            /// END ACT ///
Mr. Larsen said his team of U-N mapping experts have 
marked out a withdrawal line that coincides with the 
international border to the best of their knowledge.  
The next step, he says, is to determine if Israel is 
respecting that line.
            /// LARSEN ACT TWO ///
      What remains is to check Israeli positions along 
      the withdrawal line.  With a map of the 
      withdrawal line now being handed over to the two 
      governments, UNIFIL can now begin to determine 
      whether Israel's withdrawal all along the 
      withdrawal line is compliant with (U-N 
      resolution) 425.  This work will begin tomorrow.
            /// END ACT ///
Security Council resolution 425, passed in 1978, 
states that Israel must withdraw to its 
internationally recognized border with Lebanon.
Mr. Larsen said he is impressed with the Lebanese 
government's efforts to reassert its authority in the 
border strip evacuated by Israel.  He also emphasized 
the U-N hope that Lebanon will deploy its army there 
soon.
            /// LARSEN ACT THREE ///
      Both the president and the prime minister have 
      informed me that they will consider the 
      redeployment of the Lebanese army in the south 
      in connection with the confirmation of Israel's 
      withdrawal.
            /// END ACT ///
The Lebanese government has said repeatedly it would  
not  deploy its army in the evacuated border area 
before a peace settlement is reached with Israel.
But a number of prominent Lebanese politicians have 
asked the government to deploy the army.  Several have 
accused Syria of opposing the deployment.  Syria is 
the main power-broker in Lebanon.   (Signed)
NEB/EY/JWH/JP
06-Jun-2000 13:26 PM EDT (06-Jun-2000 1726 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.