By Barbara Schoetzau
Voa NewsJuly 24, 2001
A new report from Secretary-General Kofi Annan calls for a 20 percent cut back in the number of U.N. peacekeepers along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Mr. Annan's report recommends extending the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon for another six months. At the same time, the Secretary-General's report outlines plans to continue reducing UNIFIL's presence along the tense border over the next year.
There are currently about 4,500 peacekeepers from 10 nations serving in Lebanon. Mr. Annan wants to withdraw contingents from Finland and Ireland in the next few months, reducing the number of troops by about 1,000. U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard says the situation along the border is generally stable. But he says Mr. Annan is concerned about recent attacks, particularly in the Shebaa Farms area, where Israel left some troops after pulling out of Lebanon last year.
"The secretary-general says the Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace have created additional tension," said Mr. Eckhard. "And he also says that the government of Lebanon has continued to let Hezbollah operate close to the blue line. He asked the Lebanese government to take more steps to insure the return of its effective authority throughout southern Lebanon. The secretary-general reiterates the need for all parties to respect the blue line and keep the situation calm."
The report also refers to the controversy over a videotape made by U.N. peacekeepers which show vehicles that may have been used in the abduction of three Israeli soldiers last October. Israel and Lebanon have been offered the opportunity to view the tape with the identities of non-U.N. personnel obscured.
The Security Council is scheduled to hold consultations on Lebanon later this week.
