By David Rudge, Jerusalem Post, 20.6.00
HAIFA (June 20) - Soldiers are beginning to reinforce UNIFIL in
preparation for its expected deployment throughout south Lebanon and to the
border with Israel, The Jerusalem Post learned last night.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced yesterday that UNIFIL,
currently composed of around 4,500 soldiers from nine contributing countries,
is to receive an additional 1,200 troops.
The newcomers are slated to include a contingent of about 600 soldiers
from Ukraine and a detachment from Sweden, including sappers equipped with mine
clearing equipment.
The Post learned that UNIFIL is also purchasing urgently-needed armored
personnel carriers and other armored vehicles from Finland as part of the
reinforcements for the force. The new vehicles are reportedly equipped with
mine-clearing applications and can also withstand explosive devices.
Meanwhile many of the existing contingents are reportedly sending
additional troops, especially India which has a 600-strong battalion
supervising the eastern sector of the former security zone in south Lebanon.
The Indians are virtually alone in that particular region and it is
expected that at least another 200 soldiers will be sent to reinforce the detachment,
enabling it to deploy in the extended area under its supervision. UN sources
say some of the reinforcements have already arrived and more are expected soon.
Despite Lebanese government objections over what it described as
violations by Israel of the UN's withdrawal line, a combined force of 1,000
Lebanese army, police and security personnel is expected to deploy in south
Lebanon once the UN has verified Israel's pullback to Lebanon's satisfaction.
Annan said the reinforcements' main task would be to help the Lebanese
government take charge of the area vacated by the IDF last month.
"UNIFIL's main task will now be to help the Lebanese government
restore its effective authority and assume its responsibility in the area from
which Israel has withdrawn," Annan told the UN peacekeepers. "And
that, of course, will require you to deploy in places you have not covered up
to now."
Annan had gone to south Lebanon after a meeting with President Emile
Lahoud, described by Lebanese officials as frosty because of the UN decision to
confirm an Israeli withdrawal.
"Lebanon considers the continuing existence of Israeli violations
means that the Israeli withdrawal is incomplete," Lahoud said.
"Lebanon is awaiting results of the work of the joint UN-Lebanese ground
team to announce its final position in this regard."
"Lebanon confirms that the removal of these violations is a step
that must precede any redeployment for the UNIFIL (peacekeepers) in the
liberated areas," he said.
According to the UN sources, there are still two main sources of
contention, the Ha'pa'amonit outpost, north of Moshav Dovev and another IDF
position some two kilometers east of Metulla. The sources said that the IDF had
been informed of UN concerns over these positions and it had also relayed
Lebanon's objections over other points of contention.
In Nakoura, Annan met with UNIFIL commander Maj-Gen. Seth Kofi Obeng,
the force's senior political adviser and veteran spokesman Timur Goksel and
other senior officers and members of the force.
Goksel said Annan was given a briefing on the work of verifying Israel's
withdrawal from Lebanon and UNIFIL's plans to deploy its troops throughout the
south of the country using existing personnel.
Annan, who informed Prime Minister Ehud Barak that he expects Israel to
respect the UN-determined withdrawal line, is expected to visit Israel tomorrow
as part of his Middle East tour.
Reports from Lebanon said the Lebanese government has raised objections
over 16 pockets of land that it claimed was inside Israeli territory. Lebanon
has also raised objections over Israeli contractors allegedly crossing into
Lebanese territory, apparently while constructing a new security fence along
the Northern border.
(News agencies contributed to this report.)