Naharnet

Kataeb Ministers to Suggest Deployment of UNIFIL along Border with Syria

Kataeb party ministers will propose during an extraordinary cabinet session on Monday a request to extend the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to include the country's eastern border.

“Lebanon should seek the U.N. approval to include Lebanon's eastern border with Syrian in Security Council resolution 1701,” An Nahar newspaper reported.

Labor Minister Sejaan Qazzi, who is loyal to Kataeb party, expressed surprise over “the involvement of Syrian refugees in battles in Arsal against the Lebanese army.”

He called on the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to reconsider its policies regarding the displaced Syrians as long as they are armed.

The March 14 alliance continuously called on the state to allow the UNIFIL to deploy along the the Lebanese-Syrian border in accordance with resolution 1701.

Later, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea expressed complete support to the Lebanese army.

He rejected any bargain with armed men, calling on the state to expand resolution 1701 to include all Lebanese territories.

Resolution 1701, which ended the Hizbullah-Israel war in 2006, expanded the mandate of U.N. troops in the South, which was originally formed in 1978 after the outbreak of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.

H.K.

G.K.


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