November 1, 2000
Reporting "tangible progress" in Lebanon's efforts to restore services to the territory vacated by Israel last spring, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has stressed the need for the Lebanese Government to take effective control of the whole area and assume full responsibilities there, including putting an end to continuing provocations on the Line of Withdrawal, known as the "Blue Line."
In a report on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) released today covering events over the past three months, Mr. Annan says that the deployment of both UNIFIL and the Lebanese Joint Security Force proceeded smoothly, and the return of the Lebanese administration was ongoing. Pointing to a clear sequence of steps spelled out in the underlying 1978 Security Council resolution 425 on Lebanon, Mr. Annan notes that after the restoration of the effective authority by Lebanon, both the Lebanese and Israeli Governments are to be fully responsible, in accordance with their international obligations, for preventing any hostile acts from their respective territory against that of their neighbour.
"I believe that the time has come to establish the state of affairs envisaged in the resolution," the Secretary-General writes in reference to resolution 425. Underscoring the need for the Government of Lebanon to assert its authority over the entire area from which Israel had withdrawn, he warns that otherwise "there is a danger that Lebanon may once again be an arena, albeit not necessarily the only one, of conflict between others."
The report describes the situation in UNIFIL's area of responsibility as "relatively calm," with the notable exceptions of a serious incident on 7 October when three Palestinian demonstrators were shot dead by Israeli soldiers near Marwahin and, in a separate occurrence, when Hizbollah crossed into the Israeli side of the Blue Line and captured three soldiers.
In relation to the Lebanese detainees held in Israel and the Israeli soldiers taken by Hizbollah, the Secretary-General said he remains ready to work with the Israeli and Lebanese Governments to resolve the matter.
To see the full text of the report (in PDF format), click here.
