France, Arabs to Modify UNIFIL’s Task: Controlling Lebanese-Syrian Borders

Local Editor

A diplomatic source in New York revealed that France, away from the limelight, is leading a campaign in the Security Council, to engage the United Nations Interim Forces in southern Lebanon in controlling the Northern Lebanese borders with Syria.

According to "al-Akhbar" Lebanese daily, the source hinted that "the UNIFIL leadership received a query asking if Qleiat or Riyaq airport are logistically qualified to receive humanitarian aid aircrafts."
"Arab states are cooperating with France in this project," the source stated, noting that " they proposed the adoption of one of the two airports as a compilation site of the Western and Arabic Humanitarian Aid under the auspices of the United Nations."

"These aids are to be delivered to displaced Syrians inside the Syrian territories and on the Lebanese-Syrian border. This is linked to Saudi Arabia conditions to verify the existence of a safe passage to the aids," the report added.
The diplomat further stressed that "such proposal isn't in harmony with the tasks set by resolution 1701 for the blue helmets in the area, south of the Litani River."

He also warned that "the actual aim is to create a fait accompli to modify the powers and tasks of the UNIFIL forces."
"Al-Akhbar" source also recalled what had happened in the Security Council in August / 2004 when "the resolution No. 2004 requested from the UNSG Ban Ki-moon to lead a strategic review of the UNIFIL tasks in southern Lebanon."

"France is among those who initiated this review in order to judge the results of the UNIFIL's work, six years after the end of hostilities in southern Lebanon," the diplomat clarified.
In the same context, he unveiled "the existence of a trend towards changing the structure of the UNIFIL leadership in Naqoura to include the establishment of political leadership to the exploration of airports."

"Al-Akhbar" source hinted that " this will lead to the politicization of resolution 1701, to change the UNIFIL's missions, and to give them a political and a civilian role through fabricating relations with the villages south of the Litani."
"This will lead to expanding the effects of resolution 1701, so that the UNIFIL forces contribute to the establishment of a safe passage for international aid for the displaced Syrians, from the airport of Riyak and to the dissemination of its mission to have a role in controlling the Syrian-Lebanese border and its demarcation," the diplomat warned.

He also revealed that on 21-03- 2012, the UN Council held a closed session to discuss the 18th UNSG report on the implementation of resolution 1701.
"During the discussion, a French-American understanding has emerged to raise two points from outside the table: the first provides the need to expedite the demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian border, and the second is centered on showing concern of the growing capabilities of Hizbullah's weapons," he stated.


Source: AL-Akhbar, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org