Thursday, January 29, 2015

Special Coordinator Kaag meets Prime Minister Salam in follow up to Events of Recent Days

Beirut, Lebanon
Thursday, 29 January 2015
I met with the Prime Minister in follow up to the events of recent days and given our close contacts. I expressed my appreciation for the Prime Minister's clearly expressed commitment to Security Council resolution 1701 and the importance of safeguarding Lebanon's security and stability.  
I reiterated the UN Secretary General's deep concern over the security situation and the violations of resolution 1701. The UN continues to provide its good offices and calls on all parties to continue to exercise caution and restraint to avoid any action which could destabilise the situation. We also honored the fallen UNIFIL peacekeeper. 

UNIFIL Honours fallen Peacekeeper

29 January 2015
A memorial service was held this morning at the Beirut International Airport in honour of a UNIFIL peacekeeper who lost his life yesterday in the line of duty in southern Lebanon.

Lance Corporal Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, a member of the Spanish contingent deployed in UNIFIL Sector East, joined the mission on 13 November 2014. He was killed while deployed at a UN position near Ghajar during the serious firing incident occurred yesterday along the Blue Line. The precise cause of death is as yet undetermined and remains the subject of investigation. Corporal Toledo was a well-respected and dedicated peacekeeper actively working in supporting UNIFIL's mandate under Security Council resolution 1701.

The ceremony was attended by UNIFIL Force Commander and Head of Mission Major-General Luciano Portolano, the Ambassador of Spain in Lebanon Ms. Milagros Hernando Echevarría, UNIFIL Sector East Commander Brigadier-General Antonio Ruiz Olmos, Comandante del Mando de Operationes Admiral Almirante D. Teodoro Esteban Lipez Calderon representing the Government of Spain and a representative of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). Officers and troops from the Spanish contingent as well as representatives of other contingents from UNIFIL were also in attendance.

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the peacekeeper and the Spanish authorities: "This tragic incident reminds us of the tasks undertaken by United Nations personnel who are serving far from home, under difficult conditions, to bring peace and prosperity to the people we serve. This is a brave and noble choice."

"Today, as ever, in respect for our fallen colleague, let us all pledge to continue to work tirelessly and courageously towards UNIFIL's goals and mandate," he added.

Major-General Portolano has strongly condemned this serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701. UNIFIL has launched an investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the incident.

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on deterioration of the security situation in southern Lebanon and on the Golan

New York, 28 January 2015

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned over the serious deterioration of the security situation in Southern Lebanon and violations of the cessation of hostilities and Resolution 1701 (2006). A rocket attack on an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) patrol killed two IDF soldiers and injured others; the attack was claimed by Hizbullah. The Israel Defense Forces retaliated.

 

The Secretary-General deeply regrets that a UN Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeeper sustained serious injuries that resulted in his death. The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences to the family of the peacekeeper who was killed and his sympathies to the Government and the people of Spain.

 

The Secretary-General is also concerned about violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria.  Rockets were fired yesterday, 27 January 2015, from the area of limitation on the Bravo side across the ceasefire line and the Israel Defense Forces responded with artillery fire and later an airstrike.   

 

The Secretary-General condemns all violence and calls on all concerned to exercise maximum calm and restraint, to refrain from any action that could undermine the stability of the area, and to act responsibly to prevent any escalation in an already tense regional environment. The Secretary-General urges respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region, and adherence to all relevant Security Council resolutions.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

UN ‘blue helmet’ killed near site of Lebanon-Israel cross-fire; investigation under way

28 January 2015 – A United Nations peacekeeper with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was killed today near the border with Israel but the precise cause of death is as yet undetermined and remains the subject of investigation, according to a statement issued by the mission.
"At around 11:30 am this morning, UNIFIL observed six rockets launched towards Israel from the vicinity of Wazzani north of Maysat in the UNIFIL area of operations," the peacekeeping operation said in a statement. "The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] returned artillery fire in the same general area."
"During the course of the developments, a UNIFIL peacekeeper deployed at a UN position near Ghajar sustained serious injuries that resulted in his death," according to UNIFIL. "The precise cause of death is as yet undetermined and remains the subject of investigation."
The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, expressed deep concern over the serious deterioration of the security situation in South Lebanon following the exchange of fire. She urgently called on all parties to refrain from any actions that could destabilize the situation further.
Ms. Kaag strongly urged all parties to continue to abide by their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701, which called for the full cessation of hostilities in the month-long 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah in Lebanon.
UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano was in immediate contact with the parties to help control the situation and prevent further escalation, it said.
The Force Commander has strongly condemned this serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701. He is maintaining continuous contacts with the parties and has urged both sides to exercise utmost restraint.
UNIFIL has launched an investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the incident.
UNIFIL also reported that at around 1:30 p.m. today, five rockets were fired from the general area of Kafer Shouba towards Israel, and the IDF fired artillery rounds towards the source of fire. UNIFIL said it has been informed by the IDF that they incurred casualties as a result of fire from the Lebanese side.
The 10,000-strong UN peacekeeping operation in Lebanon has further reinforced its presence on the ground and intensified patrols across the area of operations in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces.


UNIFIL Press Statement on incidents along the Blue Line

28 January 2015
At around 11:30 am this morning, UNIFIL observed six rockets launched towards Israel from the vicinity of Wazzani north of Maysat in the UNIFIL area of operations. The IDF returned artillery fire in the same general area. 

During the course of the developments, a UNIFIL peacekeeper deployed at a UN position near Ghajar sustained serious injuries that resulted in his death. The precise cause of death is as yet undetermined and remains the subject of investigation. 

UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano was in immediate contact with the parties to help control the situation and prevent further escalation. 

In the meantime, at around 1:30 pm five rockets were fired from the general area of Kafer Shouba towards Israel. The IDF fired artillery rounds towards the source of fire. 

UNIFIL has been informed by the IDF that they incurred casualties as a result of fire from the Lebanese side. 

UNIFIL has further reinforced its presence on the ground and intensified patrols across the area of operations in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces. At this time the situation along the Blue Line is quiet. 

Major-General Portolano has strongly condemned this serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701. He is maintaining continuous contacts with the parties and has urged both sides to exercise utmost restraint. UNIFIL has launched an investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the incident.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

INTERVIEW: all parties want calm across Israeli-Lebanese border, says former UN envoy

22 January 2015 – While there are still outstanding issues and underlying tensions, all parties want to maintain calm across the so-called 'Blue Line' that separates Israel and Lebanon, according to a former United Nations official tasked with monitoring the issue.
Derek Plumbly, a former British diplomat with extensive Middle East experience, recently completed a three-year stint as the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon. Among his most important responsibilities at the helm of the Beirut-based UN political office in Lebanon (UNSCOL) was helping to implement Security Council resolution 1701.
The resolution, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah, calls for respect for the Blue Line, the disarming of all militias in Lebanon, and an end to arms smuggling in the area. While UN peacekeepers patrol the south, UNSCOL's small civilian team pursues the political dimensions of the resolution.
"Although we failed to secure progress on some of the more difficult outstanding issues, and there are unimplemented parts of the resolution, the calm has enabled the people in the south of Lebanon and on the other side of the Blue Line to pursue their normal lives," said Mr. Plumbly.
"Obviously there are reasons for concern, partly because there are these outstanding issues and because there are still underlying tensions," he added in an interview this week with Politically Speaking, the online magazine of the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA).
"But I think there is a shared concern, frankly and it is very important to note this, on the part of all parties to sustain that calm across the Blue Line."
Mr. Plumbly, who was succeeded by Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands, noted that it is part of the Special Coordinator's role to try to 'underline the benefits' of the calm and to ensure that people remain committed to a secession of hostilities across the Blue Line and to maintaining the achievements of resolution 1701.
Among the greatest challenges UNSCOL has faced, he said, has been coping with the consequences of the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Syria. Lebanon's Government has declared an official policy of 'disassociation' from the Syrian conflict. And under an agreement brokered in 2012 known as the Baabda Declaration, the leading political blocs have adopted the same commitment not to import the crisis into Lebanon.
However, Lebanon has felt the impact of the conflict in many ways. "In the shadow of the Syrian crisis, the threats to Lebanon have become more numerous," said Mr. Plumbly, citing spill-over in the form of terrorism, polarization of the population due to differing views on what is happening in Syria, as well as the large refugee influx.
There are currently some 1.1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon (equal to a quarter of the resident population), making it the country with the highest per capita concentration of refugees worldwide, and putting increasing pressure on a host community that is already stretched to the breaking point.
While the influx of a million refugees would be massive in any country, the UN refugee agency says that for Lebanon – 'a small nation beset by internal difficulties' – the impact is 'staggering.'
Government formation and vacancies in top leadership posts have been recurring problems for the country, which has been without a president since last May.
Mr. Plumbly stressed the need for all parties to be flexible and to show a sense of urgency, adding that the vacancy in the presidency does have a negative impact.
"It's a complex political situation with a lot of quite difficult challenges," he stated, adding that this is why it is critical for the Special Coordinator to reach out to everyone and maintain contacts with all parties.
"There were no political players in Lebanon to whom we did not speak and that too on a very regular basis. And that, I think, is crucial."

Friday, January 02, 2015

Mandate of UN-backed tribunal for Lebanon extended for three more years

2 January 2015 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has extended the mandate of the United Nations-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which was set up to try those responsible for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others, for a period of three years from 1 March 2015.
Mr. Hariri and the others were killed on 14 February 2005 after a massive car bomb exploded as his motorcade passed through central Beirut.
Five accused have been indicted over the killing. The trial in absentia began in January 2014 and is currently ongoing.
The Tribunal, based near The Hague in the Netherlands, was established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1757 (2007) following the request of the Government of Lebanon for a tribunal of international character to try all those alleged responsible for the attack.
In a note issued to the media, Mr. Ban reaffirmed the commitment of the UN to support the work of the Tribunal to bring those responsible to justice and to ensure that impunity for such major crimes will not be tolerated.
The UN looks forward to the continued support and cooperation of the Government of Lebanon, the note added.