UN Does not Categorically Deny Saving "Israeli" Pilots
Source: Al-Manar TV, 6-8-2008
The report published Tuesday on UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) commander General Claudio Graziano's ordering his troops to save any "Israeli" pilot whose plane may be brought down gave impetus to discussions, clarifications and statements.
Lebanese Army interim commander General Shawki Masri met Tuesday with Graziano, who tried to explain the issue. Lebanese Army sources told Al-Manar that they asked for an official clarification from the UNIFIL, noting that, according to article 9 in the accord signed between both parties, the international forces must hand in any person they detain to the Lebanese army even if this person was not invading the country as in the case of "Israeli" pilots.
The UNIFIL also issued a statement to deny giving orders to save "Israeli" pilots. However, the statement seemed to be ambiguous saying that the published report by Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar does not accurately represent the way UNIFIL operates. It also said that the activities of UNIFIL are defined by UN Security Council Resolution 1701 "and are carried out in close cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese Army, which has primary responsibility for security and law and order in the area of operations."
However, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Farhan Haq refused to "assert categorically that UNIFIL will not hand over any "Israeli" pilot it may come to hold to the "Israeli" army."
Speaking to Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, Haq said that the UNIFIL will continue to work in accordance with the Technical Arrangements established in 2006 between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army. "However, if urgent circumstances take place, we'll see what to do. We are talking here about hypothetical circumstances," he said. "It is difficult to predict what will happen," he noted, adding that there are rules to be followed, including cooperation with Lebanese authorities.
But when Al-Akhbar reporter insisted on asking Haq whether he would categorically confirm any "Israeli" pilot wouldn't be handed in to the "Israeli" enemy army, Haq answered: "I cannot say anything categorically on a hypothetical case. We are talking about something that didn't happen yet. I just can assert that the actual rules of engagement stipulate that UNIFIL will hand over to the Lebanese Army any person they may detain, and any weapons, ammunitions and explosives they may seize in the course of discharging their duties.
Meanwhile, security sources revealed to Al-Akhbar that several problems have started to emerge lately with the UNIFIL command regarding a list of demands that are unrelated to its mandate. According to the daily, the sources also slammed the mysterious position of UNIFIL's command "as it knew of the decision's existence, knowing that copies of it have been provided to the services involved."
On Tuesday, Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar quoted western diplomatic sources in the United Nations as saying that "Israel" has notified the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as the governments of states participating in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) of its concern that Hizbullah may receive efficient antiaircraft weaponry that may lead to downing fighter jets.
The sources noted that UNIFIL commander General Grazziano issued an order in conformity with "Israel's" wishes. Al-Akhbar said the order stipulates that "in case an "Israeli" warplane was shot down in UNIFIL's area of influence, the pilot should be rescued as soon as possible and taken to the closest UNIFIL post before any side manages to reach him."
"In case the pilot fell into the hands of 'gunmen', he also must be rescued, Grazziano's order added. "Only in the case that the pilot falls into the hands of Lebanese army troops there should be no intervention," it also said.
The report published Tuesday on UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) commander General Claudio Graziano's ordering his troops to save any "Israeli" pilot whose plane may be brought down gave impetus to discussions, clarifications and statements.
Lebanese Army interim commander General Shawki Masri met Tuesday with Graziano, who tried to explain the issue. Lebanese Army sources told Al-Manar that they asked for an official clarification from the UNIFIL, noting that, according to article 9 in the accord signed between both parties, the international forces must hand in any person they detain to the Lebanese army even if this person was not invading the country as in the case of "Israeli" pilots.
The UNIFIL also issued a statement to deny giving orders to save "Israeli" pilots. However, the statement seemed to be ambiguous saying that the published report by Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar does not accurately represent the way UNIFIL operates. It also said that the activities of UNIFIL are defined by UN Security Council Resolution 1701 "and are carried out in close cooperation and coordination with the Lebanese Army, which has primary responsibility for security and law and order in the area of operations."
However, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Farhan Haq refused to "assert categorically that UNIFIL will not hand over any "Israeli" pilot it may come to hold to the "Israeli" army."
Speaking to Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, Haq said that the UNIFIL will continue to work in accordance with the Technical Arrangements established in 2006 between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army. "However, if urgent circumstances take place, we'll see what to do. We are talking here about hypothetical circumstances," he said. "It is difficult to predict what will happen," he noted, adding that there are rules to be followed, including cooperation with Lebanese authorities.
But when Al-Akhbar reporter insisted on asking Haq whether he would categorically confirm any "Israeli" pilot wouldn't be handed in to the "Israeli" enemy army, Haq answered: "I cannot say anything categorically on a hypothetical case. We are talking about something that didn't happen yet. I just can assert that the actual rules of engagement stipulate that UNIFIL will hand over to the Lebanese Army any person they may detain, and any weapons, ammunitions and explosives they may seize in the course of discharging their duties.
Meanwhile, security sources revealed to Al-Akhbar that several problems have started to emerge lately with the UNIFIL command regarding a list of demands that are unrelated to its mandate. According to the daily, the sources also slammed the mysterious position of UNIFIL's command "as it knew of the decision's existence, knowing that copies of it have been provided to the services involved."
On Tuesday, Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar quoted western diplomatic sources in the United Nations as saying that "Israel" has notified the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as the governments of states participating in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) of its concern that Hizbullah may receive efficient antiaircraft weaponry that may lead to downing fighter jets.
The sources noted that UNIFIL commander General Grazziano issued an order in conformity with "Israel's" wishes. Al-Akhbar said the order stipulates that "in case an "Israeli" warplane was shot down in UNIFIL's area of influence, the pilot should be rescued as soon as possible and taken to the closest UNIFIL post before any side manages to reach him."
"In case the pilot fell into the hands of 'gunmen', he also must be rescued, Grazziano's order added. "Only in the case that the pilot falls into the hands of Lebanese army troops there should be no intervention," it also said.
