French UNIFIL troops conduct training exercises near border with Israel

05 March 2008

SIDON: A unit of the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has begun a round of training exercises in the Southern areas extending from Aarqoub to the Shebaa Farms, the National News Agency (NNA) reported on Monday.

The NNA added that these areas were chosen to provide the forces with familiarity of the terrain as a contingency in preparation for any developments in the security situation along the Israeli border.

The report added that the French UNIFIL battalion conducted similar exercises last week in the Southern towns of Abbasiyeh, Mari, Ain Arab, Wazzani and the Hamames Hills.

In a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry on Monday, France said it was willing to support UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by sending additional French forces to Lebanon to control the border and prevent arms smuggling.

France said it expected "concrete initiatives" against arms smuggling by Syria.

The Foreign Ministry statement said France had taken note of the sixth UN report on the implementation of Resolution 1701, which it described as "very important" in view of the regional situation.

"Like the UN secretary general, we examine with concern the extent to which the political crisis in Lebanon hinders the implementation of this resolution," France said, adding that it welcomed any progress in putting the South under the rule of the Lebanese government in coordination with UNIFIL.

The French Foreign Ministry also called upon the Lebanese to refrain from any "provocative acts" and to respect the Lebanese government and the UN-marked Blue Line separating the country from Israel. It also said the release of Israeli detainees by Hizbullah was a priority.

France said it was willing to support Ban's proposed project by sending additional French forces to Southern Lebanon to control the border. "We still expect to see concrete initiatives by Syria," which the Foreign Ministry said bore particular responsibility in this regard.

In the sixth report to the UN Security Council on the implementation of 1701, Ban said the political crisis in Lebanon, which culminated in the inability to elect a president despite 15 attempts at holding elections since Emile Lahoud stepped down last November, also affected the implementation of Resolution 1701.

Meanwhile UNIFIL's Spanish contingent organized a basketball tournament at a public school in Mari on Monday.

The Spanish peacekeepers spent the day with the students, and taught them the basic rules of basketball.