SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH ISR"L"S FOREIGN MINISTER IN GENEVA, WELCOMES ASSURANCES ON SOUTHERN LEBANON
Press Release
SG/SM/7349
SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH ISRAELS FOREIGN MINISTER IN GENEVA, WELCOMES ASSURANCES ON SOUTHERN LEBANON
20000404The following statement by Secretary-General Kofi Annan was issued today by his Spokesman:
I was pleased to receive the Foreign Minister of Israel, David Levy, at his request in Geneva this afternoon. The Minister reaffirmed his Governments decision to withdraw Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in accordance with Security Council resolution 425 (1978), fully and without conditions. The Minister informed me that the withdrawal will occur in one go by the end of July. The Minister assured me of his Governments intention to cooperate fully with the United Nations throughout the process, within the framework of the relevant Security Council resolutions. The Minister and I agreed that cooperation by all parties concerned would be needed in order to avoid any deterioration of the situation during the withdrawal.
I welcome these assurances from the Foreign Minister and look forward to a formal notification from the Government of Israel on this matter.
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