مجلس الامن اعتمد بالاجماع قرارا يقضي بالتمديد لقوات اليونيفيل لمدة سنة/Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon

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وزارة الخارجية اللبنانية : مجلس الامن اعتمد بالاجماع قرارا يقضي بالتمديد لقوات اليونيفيل لمدة سنة ويدين الانتهاكات الاسرائيلية للسيادة اللبنانية
وطنية – الجمعة 30 آب 2019
اعلنت وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين في بيان “أنه وبعد محادثات مطولة ومفاوضات شاقة امتدت على مدى الأسابيع الماضية، وبجهود استثنائية لبعثة لبنان الدائمة في نيويورك، إعتمد مجلس الامن بالإجماع قرارا يقضي بالتجديد لقوات اليونيفيل لمدة سنة، وقد جاء التمديد من دون المس بولاية اليونيفيل، ومع المحافظة على عدد عناصرها تمكينا لها من القيام بواجباتها على أكمل وجه”. اضاف البيان: “كما أن القرار أدان ولأول مرة الإنتهاكات الإسرائيلية للسيادة اللبنانية الجوية والبرية.لبنان يشكر جميع الدول الصديقة التي وقفت إلى جانبه وساندته في إعتماد هذا القرار، الذي يؤكد مرة جديدة على حرص مجلس الأمن على استقرار لبنان والمنطقة والذي يدين بشكل صريح التعديات الإسرائيلية على لبنان”.

Security Council renews mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon
UN News/August 30/2019
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon for one year.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body requested the Secretary-General to look at ways to enhance the efforts of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), including through increasing the mission’s visible presence, through patrols and inspections, within its existing mandate and capabilities.
Originally established in 1978, UNIFIL was greatly reinforced after the 2006 fighting to oversee the cessation of hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah. It is tasked with ensuring that the area between the so-called ‘Blue Line’ – separating Israel and Lebanon – and the Litani River is free of unauthorized weapons, personnel and assets. It also cooperates with the Lebanese Armed Forces so they can fulfil their security responsibilities.
UNIFIL’s initial mandate included confirming the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and assisting the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.
The Council affirmed its strong continuing commitment to the existing mandate of UNIFIL, also urging all parties to cooperate fully with the Security Council and the Secretary-General to make tangible progress towards a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution as envisioned in resolution 1701, which helped end the 2006 hostilities in Lebanon between Israel and the Hizbollah.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the Council’s unanimous decision to extend UNIFIL mandate until 31 August 2018, his Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.
The Secretary-General reiterated that UNIFIL, in close cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces, will continue to enhance its operational activities to effectively implement its mandate, and urged the international community to further support the Government of Lebanon in this regard, the Spokesman said.
The Secretary-General also emphasized the need for the parties to build on the prevailing calm, to focus on the goal of a permanent ceasefire and to act proactively to address all outstanding issues in the implementation of resolution 1701 and other relevant Security Council resolutions, Mr. Dujarric added.

UN Security Council renews UNIFIL’s mandate in Lebanon for another year
News Agencies/August 30/2019
The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to renew for another year the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.
The measure backing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) calls on the Lebanese government to boost its naval capabilities, with the ultimate aim of drawing down the mission’s maritime taskforce.
That requirement had been pushed by the United States, which also demanded better enforcement of the UN arms embargo against Hizballah.
“It is unacceptable that Hizballah continues to flout this embargo, Lebanon’s sovereignty, and the will of the majority of Lebanese people,” US diplomat Rodney Hunter said after the vote.
He blasted Iran for supporting Hizballah and said the group is a “direct threat” to peace and threatens the stability of Lebanon.
But the text adopted by the Council does not mention Hizballah by name, despite US demands.
“All states shall take the necessary measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or using flag vessels or aircraft, the sale or supply of arms and related materiel to any entity or individual in Lebanon other than those authorized by the Government of Lebanon or UNIFIL,” the resolution states.
A US diplomat said the aim of shrinking the UN maritime force, which consists of half a dozen military ships equipped with weapons and radar, was to cut the UNIFIL mission costs.
First set up in 1978, UNIFIL was beefed up after the 2006 Lebanon War, tasked with guaranteeing a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from a demilitarized zone on the border.
UNIFIL now has 10,500 troops on the ground monitoring the ceasefire and helping the Lebanese government secure its borders.
Israel’s position on having an international naval force so close to its territory remains unclear.