Watkins Meets Moussawi: Security of All Forces Maintaining Stability of South Must be Ensured
U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon ad interim Robert Watkins hoped on Monday that the Lebanese authorities will take the necessary measures to bring those behind the attacks against the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon to justice.
He said after holding talks with Hizbullah International Relations official Ammar Moussawi: “It is in the interest of all parties to ensure that security is guaranteed for those, such as UNIFIL troops, who are trying to maintain stability in the South along the Blue Line.”
“We are very concerned obviously about the attack against UNIFIL. We are very grateful for the statement made by Hizbullah condemning this attack some ten days ago,” he added.
This is the third attack against UNIFIL in the last six months and this is of course a very unsatisfactory situation, he noted.
“It is very important not only to avoid the recurrence of such incidents but also to protect the stability of southern Lebanon and of the rest of the country,” stressed Watkins.
“The U.N. continues to expect that both Israel and Lebanon will take the necessary steps to fully implement resolution 1701, as we generally expect Lebanon to meet all its international obligations under relevant resolutions. This remains an important issue for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,” he said.
Watkins and Moussawi also discussed Ban’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 1701.
On December 9, a French UNIFIL unit was the victim of a bomb attack in the southern city of Tyre.
Seven people, including five French soldiers, were injured in the attack.
France has accused Syria of being behind the assault, saying that it employed its close ally Hizbullah to execute it.
Syria and Hizbullah have both denied the allegations.
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