27 July -- The United Nations Security Council today extended for six months the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and called on the Government of Lebanon to ensure the return of its authority in the south and proceed with the deployment of its armed forces "as soon as possible".
Unanimously adopting resolution 1310 (2000), the Council called on Israel and Lebanon to respect the Line of Withdrawal, exercise utmost restraint and cooperate fully with the UN and UNIFIL.
The Security Council also reiterated its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries, and stressed the importance of -- and the need to achieve -- a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on all of the Council's relevant resolutions.
Welcoming the measures taken by the Secretary-General and the troop contributing countries regarding UNIFIL military personnel and deployment, the Council reaffirmed that the expected redeployment of the peacekeeping troops should be conducted in coordination with the Government of Lebanon and the Lebanese armed forces.
The Security Council also welcomed the establishment of checkpoints by the Government of Lebanon in the vacated area, and encouraged Lebanese authorities to ensure a calm environment throughout the south, including through the control of its checkpoints.
Meanwhile in Lebanon, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen, held a series of meetings this morning with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Selim el-Hoss to discuss the situation along the withdrawal line. Following the meetings, Mr. Roed-Larsen and Prime Minister el-Hoss said that all Israeli violations had been rectified, except one which the Israeli side was in the process of correcting, according to a UN spokesman.
UNIFIL Deputy Commander General James Sreenan went today to the withdrawal line to oversee the process of rectification, spokesman Fred Eckhard said. In Beirut, UNIFIL Force Commander, General Seth Kofi Obeng, met meanwhile with Lebanese Army representatives to work out the operational matters of the deployment in southern Lebanon.
Also in Beirut today, Mr. Roed-Larsen co-chaired with Prime Minister el-Hoss the opening session of a meeting of potential donor countries for the reconstruction of southern Lebanon. "Planning must begin today to institute a development effort that will provide the basis for long term sustainable growth in south Lebanon," Mr. Roed-Larsen told the assembled delegates. "We must work in a cohesive manner to make Lebanon a confidence-building example for the entire Middle East region."
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