SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES POSITIVE HUMANITARIAN STEPS BY ISRAEL, HIZBULLAH

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the return by Israel today of a released prisoner to Lebanon and Hizbullah's release of remains of Israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 war.

He believes these developments are a positive step towards addressing the humanitarian issues that are an important component of Security Council resolution 1701.

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For information media • not an official record