President Michel Aoun on Wednesday affirmed Lebanon’s adherence to international forces operating in South Lebanon, UNIFIL, and the positive role played by these forces, noting that the Cabinet took a decision to request an extension of their missions for an additional year without modifying its mandate and the concept of operations and rules of engagement. “Our adherence to it is only surpassed by our attachment to public freedoms and full Lebanese sovereignty” President Aoun asserted.

The President stressed the importance of continuing and strengthening partnership between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army, and the role these forces play in monitoring Israel’s daily air, land and sea violations, and its continuous violation of 170, in addition to its breaching Lebanese airspace to bomb Syrian land.

“The Lebanese Army provides all the necessary facilities to UNIFIL, as required, in order to properly carry out its tasks” the President said.

For his part, Prime Minister Dr. Hassan Diab indicated that stability in southern Lebanon is fixed by a Lebanese decision stating to invoke international legitimacy in imposing its prestige and preventing aggression against Lebanese sovereignty.

“Without this decision, daily Israeli violations would have caused permanent tension on the borders. Lebanon looks forward to reaffirming the commitment of the United Nations and the UN Security Council to maintain stability on its southern border, and to impose the implementation of Resolution 1701 on Israel” PM Diab added.

The Prime Minister also noted that “The continuation of UNFIL’s mission, in southern Lebanon, is an international need before beingLebanese demand”, stressing that “The presence of these forces, according to the agency given to them, and the role assigned to them, without any modification in their missions, is today a necessity to prevent tension and redress any danger looming at the border as a result of escalating Israeli violations of Resolution 1701”.

Stances of the President and Prime Minister, came during a meeting, today at Baabda Palace, chaired by President Aoun and attended by Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Minister, Nassif Hitti and Ambassadors of the five permanent Security Council members: Russian Ambassador, Alexander Zasbekin, Chinese Ambassador, Wang Kijian, French Ambassador, Bruno Foucher, British Ambassador, Christopher Maxwell Rampling, US Ambassador, Dorothy Shea, and the UN Secretary-General representative, Jan Kubis.

The meeting, which was devoted to discuss the UNIFIL mandate extension, was also attended by former Minister Salim Jreissati, Director General of the Presidency of the Republic, Dr. Antoine Choucair, and advisers to the President of the Republic, Brigadier General, Paul Matar, Ambassador, Charbel Wahba, Mr. Rafic Chelala and Osama Khashab.

PM Diab’s speech:

Speech of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, during his meeting with Ambassadors- Baabda- June 3, 2020.

“Good morning,

Since the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1701, Lebanon remains committed to implementing this resolution, and has been cooperating with the United Nations to maintain calm and stability on the Southern border.

On the other hand, the Security Council resolution, as well as previous resolutions, were exposed to continuous and daily violations, on land, sea and air, by the Israeli occupation, which was not stipulated in Resolution 1701, especially in terms of its continued occupation of Shebaa Farms, and Kfar Shuba Hills, and a part of Ghajar town, in addition to several other border areas and attacks on exclusive economic sea zones, and the aggression against Lebanese sovereignty by daily aircraft violations in the Lebanese sky.

During year 2019, Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty numbered 2551 as follows:

178 land violations.

1373 air violations.

739 sea violations.

261 land provocations.

In year 2020, the total number of violations reached 374 on land and 386 at sea, during a period of only five months, in addition to 250 air violations through four months.

Over the past 14 years, since the implementation of Resolution 1701, the UN Forces have spotted tens of thousands of Israeli attacks on Lebanon. In addition, UNIFIL witnesses the highest degree of Lebanese commitment to this decision, despite some mistakes made due to the lack of coordination with the Lebanese Army.

Resolution 1701 achieved stability on the Southern Lebanese borders, thanks to the efforts exerted by UNIFIL Forces, in accordance with their current missions, because these tasks reassure the people of the South that there are no hidden intentions against them, or that the UN is taking double standards, and that UNIFIL want to target Lebanese citizens.

A strong relationship and positive interaction has developed between UNIFIL officers and soldiers and the people of the South, and this has contributed to reducing congestion and even to increasing the effectiveness of UNIFIL work.

Stability in Southern Lebanon is fixed by a Lebanese decision to invoke international legitimacy in imposing its prestige and preventing aggression against Lebanese sovereignty. Without this decision, daily Israeli violations would have caused permanent tension on the borders. Hence, Lebanon looks forward to affirm commitment of the UN and UN Security Council to maintain stability on the Southern Borders, and to impose Israel to implement Resolution 1701.

The continued work of UNIFIL in Southern Lebanon is an international need, before being a Lebanese demand. The presence of these forces, according to the role assigned to them, is now necessary to prevent tension and redress any danger looming at the borders as a result of Israeli violations.

Lebanon expects the international community to realize the dangers of any change in the numerous missions and tasks of UNIFIL, especially in light of the situation which Lebanon is experiencing economically, socially and financially. Therefore, we are betting on the wisdom and awareness of those concerned in the Security Council of the importance of the role which UNIFIL should play.

The Lebanese Government reiterates its thanks for the cooperation of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Gutierrez, in securing the appropriate conditions to maintain Resolution 1701 implementation.

Thank You!

Long Live Lebanon”.

Russian Ambassador:

After speeches of the President and Prime Minister, Ambassadors spoke. The Russian Ambassador confirmed his country’s support for the Lebanese position, expressing readiness to coordinate, appreciating UNIFIL’s positive role. Zasbekin also stressed the importance of strengthening the partnership between the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL and the need to stop Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty, in addition to providing international support to Lebanon in these difficult circumstances.

Chinese Ambassador:

For his side, the Ambassador of China thanked President Aoun for his initiative in calling to this meeting and praised the role of UNIFIL forces in maintaining stability along the Blue Line. The Chinese Ambassador also expressed his country’s principled support for the extension of UNIFIL mandate, noting that China will participate in the negotiations on the draft decision and will pay in terms of increasing its effectiveness. Kijian then indicated that his country will continue to participate in UNIFIL and cooperate with members of the international community to contribute to stability and development in Lebanon.

French Ambassador:

The French Ambassador, in his turn, praised the role played by international forces since starting their missions in South Lebanon, commemorating martyrs who fell. Foucher pointed out that the area of international operations is equal to 1063 km2 and includes around 200 villages, noting that UNIFIL’s role is acceptable to all the local population. Foucher added that the south region is quiet and is one of the calmest regions of the Middle East. “The mission of UNIFIL is basically successful and its activity is stable, and the total number of its missions during 2019, numbered around 23,000, in cooperation with the Lebanese Army” he added.

“France will work with security council member states in New York to extend the mission mandate of UNIFIL for an additional year, and this mission will be successful and a model for success” Foucher concluded.

British Ambassador:

The Ambassador of Britain expressed his country’s commitment to Resolution 1701, and the role of UNIFIL in preserving the peace mission of the South, pointing out that he had personally witnessed the importance of this role through his visits to the region. Rampling said that his country supports the continuous tasks of UNIFIL and increasing its effectiveness to achieve what the international community wants, which is the implementation of 1701.

Ambassador Rampling then considered that there is a responsibility for everyone to halt violation, and that UNIFIL should be able to carry out its tasks without confronting any obstacles, pointing to Britain’s understanding of the Lebanese stance. Finally, Rampling considered that discussions taking place in the Security Council constitute a basis for any discussion of any possible developments in work.

US Ambassador:

The US ambassador urged the Lebanese to take a stand of self-criticism, calling to look at what is happening north of the Blue Line. She said that her country appreciates the presence of the UNIFIL and its maritime component and the tripartite mechanism, which she considered to be very important and helps to reduce tension, noting that the UNIFIL soldiers are present in order to fully implement Resolution 1701, “And I do not think we can say that the full implementation of this resolution has taken place. Therefore, we need to consider increasing the effectiveness of UNIFILto its maximum extent and if it is not able to achieve its mandate fully, we must ask questions about whether the current number is the best” Shea said.

Ambassador Shea then noted that the private property could not be implemented by UNIFIL, considering that the issue should be addressed openly and without any hesitation.

“We join others in encouraging the two parties to work to find a lasting solution, including the issue of maritime and land borders, and the United States is ready to assist in this issue” Sheaconcluded.

Jan Kubis:

Finally, Kubis delivered a speech where he confirmed UN readiness to assist and support Lebanon. “As your Excellency (the President) have mentioned in your speech, we will always monitor and report violations of 1701 and all other relevant resolutions and we will mention them in our reports to the Secretary-General, where we express our great commitment to implementing this resolution. And other decision in close cooperation with your country and with relevant Lebanese institutions and authorities” Kubis said.

While appreciating President Aoun’s invitation to this “important and unique” meeting, he pointed out that “Lebanon asserted the great importance it attaches to the work of the international forces operating in the south and the work of the United Nations UNIFIL’s contribution to maintaining peace and security in Lebanon and it is important to see that UNIFIL remains strong in its capabilities and its continued contribution to maintaining stability along Blue Line borders”.

Afterwards, Kubis stressed the consolidation and development of partnership between UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army, expressing appreciation for the President’s recalling martyrs who fell in order to maintain Lebanese stability.

On the other hand, he asserted the importance of “Lebanon’s contribution and active role in preparing the report related to the assessment that we submit to the Secretary-General”, concluding that this would constitute a basis for launching discussion regarding UNIFIL budget, its structure, number and mandate.