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U.N. Reports Calm Situation on Border Between Israel and Lebanon
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Friday that the situation is calm on the Border between Israel and Lebanon and U.N. troops are now patrolling the region and had moved closer to the Border.
"I think things are going quite well. The situation is very calm on the border," Annan said.
" I have spoken to the leaders in the region. I have been in constant touch with Prime Minister Barak (Israel) and President Lahoud (Lebanon), and they are cooperating well with my people," Annan said.
"The Lebanese have started deploying police, administrators and investigators to the South," the Secretary-General said.
"We are now hoping that once we have certified that Israel has completely withdrawn, they would also begin sending in some army elements and then of course I am working with the Member States to send in reinforcements for UNIFIL(United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon)," Annan said.
"We have already began our work in verifying that they ( Israeli troops) have indeed withdrawn. So the verification should be coming very shortly," Annan said.
The last Israeli troops returned home Wednesday, ending Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon which lasted for 22 years.
Annan has recommended to the United Nations Security Council that UNIFIL be reinforced to verify Israel's complete withdrawal from southern Lebanon and to maintain order there
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