SECRETARY-GENERAL REITERATES UN POSITION ON ISRAELI TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON, NEED FOR ALL PARTIES TO RESPECT ‘BLUE LINE’

SECRETARY-GENERAL REITERATES UN POSITION ON ISRAELI TROOP WITHDRAWAL

FROM LEBANON , NEED FOR ALL PARTIES TO RESPECT ‘BLUE LINE’

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

In view of recent press reports, the Secretary-General feels the need to reiterate the United Nations’ long-standing position that Israel has withdrawn its forces from all Lebanese territory, in fulfilment of resolutions 425 and 426 (1978), as confirmed unanimously by the Security Council in June 2000.

The Secretary-General strongly believes that all parties must fully respect the Blue Line in its entirety, which was unanimously determined and repeatedly endorsed by the Security Council, most recently in its resolution 1614 (2005).

The issue was discussed between the Secretary-General and Prime Minister Sharon at their meeting on 18 September 2005.

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