The European Union (EU) is considering the possibility of deploying troops on the Lebanon- Syria border.

The EU foreign ministers on Friday invited Finland, which holds the EU presidency, foreign policy chief Javier Solana and the European Commission to draw up a report on such a deployment, it was announced Friday.

The EU provides more than a half of the troops needed for the expanded UN peace-keeping mission in Lebanon.

The foreign ministers stressed the EU's commitment to supporting the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which provides for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon and the parallel deployment of Lebanese government forces and UN peace-keepers there.

They called for a full and speedy implementation of the resolution and welcomed the lifting of the Israeli air and sea blockade, which they said will ease the delivery of humanitarian aid and facilitate economic recovery.

The EU reiterated its call for the immediate release of the two abducted Israeli soldiers.

The abduction sparked a month-long conflict that killed about 1, 300 Lebanese, the majority of them civilians. Some 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, also lost their lives.

Resolution 1701 does not require the deployment of UN troops on the Lebanon-Syria border. It does indicate, if the Lebanese government were to request, the international community would assist.

At Friday's meeting, Italy, which committed the largest number of troops, raised the issue.

Troops deployment on the border is aimed to stem possible arms provision to Hezbollah, which has been fighting Israel.

Source: Xinhua