UN envoy: `We are pleased with the commitment of hizbullah to resolution 1701`
Source: Daily Star, 1-3-2007
BEIRUT: The head UN envoy to the Middle East said he was "pleased" with Hizbullah`s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701 after meeting with officials from the party on Wednesday. Michael Williams, the special adviser to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the Middle East, met Wednesday with resigned Energy and Water Minister Mohammad Fneish, a member of Hizbullah Williams said that the two had discussed the issues of prisoners in Lebanon and "Israel", the (occupied) Shibaa Farms, "Israeli" overflights in South Lebanon and alleged weapons smuggling from Syria to Hizbullah.
"We are pleased with the commitment of Hizbullah to the resolution," Williams told reporters, referring to Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the summer 2006 war with "Israel". "We are pleased by the commitment of all parties.
"The resolution has worked well. We had one bad incident on February 7. We can`t afford another," said Williams, referring to an exchange of fire between the Lebanese and "Israeli" armies across the UN-demarcated Blue Line. The skirmish had erupted after the Lebanese Army responded to an attempt by an "Israeli" bulldozer to enter Lebanese territory.
A UN investigation of the incident said both sides were at fault. The clash prompted a campaign to clearly re-mark the Blue Line to prevent future cross-border incidents.
"I had a very good meeting with Minister Fneish," said Williams. "We discussed all the issues that come under Security Council resolution 1701."
It was the third meeting between Williams and Fneish, who was one of six ministers to resign in November 2006.
Williams said Fneish has raised the issue of unexploded ordnance in South Lebanon, particularly land mines and cluster bombs, and the need to clear such munitions quickly and efficiently.
Williams also said that "Israeli" overflights are "violations of Lebanese sovereignty."
On Tuesday, Williams told Premier Fouad Siniora and Defense Minister Elias Murr that he had "forcefully" raised the issue of "Israel`s" persistent violations of Lebanese airspace with officials in the Jewish (Zionist) state.
