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Annan in Beirut to boost truce
28/08/2006 14:56 - (SA)
Beirut - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan began a Middle East mission in Beirut on Monday aimed at turning a UN truce that halted a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah fighters into a lasting ceasefire.
"It's a very critical time for Lebanon and I think it's
important that I come here myself to discuss with the Lebanese
authorities the aftermath of the war and also to underscore
international solidarity," he told reporters at Beirut airport.
Before he landed, Annan's plane circled low over the city's
Shi'ite Muslim neighbourhoods - Hezbollah strongholds that were
devastated by Israeli air strikes during the conflict.
Progress on UN resolution
Annan, who is due in Israel on Tuesday, is seeking progress
on all the complex issues between Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah
mentioned in security council resolution 1701, which calls for
an expanded UN peacekeeping force to cement the August 14 truce.
It authorised up to 13 000 troops to join an existing
2 000-strong UNIFIL force to back up 15 000 Lebanese troops in
creating a border zone free of Israeli or Hezbollah forces.
Annan was likely to brief Lebanese leaders on plans for the
force after his meeting in Brussels on Friday with European
Union foreign ministers who pledged up to 7 000 troops, enough
to ensure the reinforced UNIFIL will have a European core.
Air and sea blockade
Annan held talks with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who was
expected to press demands for the urgent removal of an Israeli
air and sea blockade of Lebanon imposed at the start of the war.
Lebanese officials said Siniora would also demand a full
Israeli withdrawal, an end to Israeli truce violations and a
solution for the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms area claimed by
Lebanon but considered by the United Nations to belong to Syria.
Israel says it will keep up the air and sea restrictions
until an arms embargo on Hezbollah is enforced. It wants UN
troops to guard Lebanon's 375km border with Syria.
- Reuters
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