UN coordinator in Lebanon: UN Resolution 1701 implemented normally
UN coordinator in Lebanon: UN Resolution 1701 implemented normally
11:05, November 05, 2009 
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UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 is taking place normally in south Lebanon despite "the difficult circumstances," local As-Safir newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Williams described the recent incidents in south Lebanon as "worrying," but said that aggressive acts are coming to a halt in a normal manner, especially given that Israel, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Shiite armed group Hezbollah are respecting requests to end any act of hostility.
He voiced hope that a permanent ceasefire would be reached by 2010.
South Lebanon has recently witnessed a series of incidents, such as a rocket launch toward Israel last week, discovery of Israeli espionage devices and an explosion in the residence of a Hezbollah official, which raised tensions in the Lebanon-Israel border area.
Williams said he will report on the implementation of Resolution 1701 on Nov. 10 and will present the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with information about the recent incidents in the south.
Resolution 1701 ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, and reinforced the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to conduct peacekeeping missions in south Lebanon.
Williams said some extremist groups within Palestinian refugee camps pose a real threat to the implementation of Resolution 1701,noting that there is no evidence that Hezbollah recently launched rockets toward Israel.
LAF's intelligence service caught a group of Fatah al-Islam members in a Palestinian refugee camp near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre in September, who were accused of monitoring the UNIFIL and planning for potential attacks against the peacekeepers.
Williams also emphasized the necessity to form the new Lebanese government as soon as possible to confront those ongoing challenges.
Source: Xinhua
Williams described the recent incidents in south Lebanon as "worrying," but said that aggressive acts are coming to a halt in a normal manner, especially given that Israel, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Shiite armed group Hezbollah are respecting requests to end any act of hostility.
He voiced hope that a permanent ceasefire would be reached by 2010.
South Lebanon has recently witnessed a series of incidents, such as a rocket launch toward Israel last week, discovery of Israeli espionage devices and an explosion in the residence of a Hezbollah official, which raised tensions in the Lebanon-Israel border area.
Williams said he will report on the implementation of Resolution 1701 on Nov. 10 and will present the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with information about the recent incidents in the south.
Resolution 1701 ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, and reinforced the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to conduct peacekeeping missions in south Lebanon.
Williams said some extremist groups within Palestinian refugee camps pose a real threat to the implementation of Resolution 1701,noting that there is no evidence that Hezbollah recently launched rockets toward Israel.
LAF's intelligence service caught a group of Fatah al-Islam members in a Palestinian refugee camp near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre in September, who were accused of monitoring the UNIFIL and planning for potential attacks against the peacekeepers.
Williams also emphasized the necessity to form the new Lebanese government as soon as possible to confront those ongoing challenges.
Source: Xinhua
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