The Security Council extended today the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another six months, until October 19. The present mandate of the 7,000-troops force expires this Friday.
The vote was 13-0, with two countries — the Soviet Union and the Ukraine — abstaining. The resolution extending the mandate of UNIFIL also reiterated the Security Council’s “strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon within its internationally-recognized boundaries.”
UNIFIL, which was created in 1978, is assigned to police and maintain the peace in south Lebanon. The resolution adopted today also requested Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar to continue his consultations with the Lebanese government, and other parties concerned, regarding the implementation of the resolution today and to report back to the Security Council.
With the withdrawal of the Israeli forces in south Lebanon, UNIFIL assumed an added role in maintaining the precarious situation in south Lebanon.
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