Secretary General Kurt Waldherm sent a personal message to Premier Menachem Begin urging speedy Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon as called for by Security Council Resolution 425 of March 19, a United Nations spokesman said today. According to the spokesman, Waldheim’s message was sent last night from London where the Secretary General is visiting.
In a statement issued here today, the spokesman said on behalf of Waldheim that “the build-up and deployment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues and the force is effectively establishing itself in the area of operations. The Secretary General is especially concerned with the implementation of Security Council Resolution 425 in relation to the withdrawal of Israeli forces,” he said.
The Secretary General expressed the hope that Israel will take “early and positive action” regarding withdrawal from south Lebanon and “that the condition will soon emerge in which UNIFIL will be able to fully carry out its mandate,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, in a related development, it was learned that informal consultations between members of the Security Council are to take place this afternoon and tomorrow on the situation in south Lebanon. The consultations were requested by Kuwait, a Council member, and was the result of growing Arab concern over the slow pace of Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon. The Arabs also want another meeting of the Security Council to discuss the situation in the area.
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