EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Financing of UN Interim Force in Lebanon

Statement on behalf of the European Union, by Mr. Thomas Thomma, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Germany, on Agenda Item 144: Financing of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon at the 5th Committee, New York

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

Mr Chairman.

At the outset let me thank the Controller, Mr Warren Sach, for introducing the report of the Secretary-General on the Budget for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. We also thank the ACABQ and its Chairman, Mr Rajat Saha, for their related report.

The European Union gives its full support to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon as well as to all other peacekeeping operations as a core function within the United Nations for ensuring conflict resolution and peace. In this context we express our strong appreciation to Member States who have contributed to UNIFIL in order to fulfill the mandate of the Security Council resolutions concerned.

Mr Chairman.

We have carefully considered the Secretary-General's proposal regarding the budget as well as the recommendations of the ACABQ. We have noted some differences between the two and we are looking forward to receiving more detailed information and clarifications thereon in the upcoming informal consultations in the Fifth Committee. We urge the Secretary-General to take all necessary action to ensure that the Force is conducted with a maximum of efficiency.

As we made clear in our statement in December last year, we welcome the continued support provided to the mission by the Strategic Military Cell at United Nations Headquarters.

We also welcome the agreement regarding the Maritime Task Force between the United Nations and those countries contributing maritime resources. The Maritime Task Force is a crucial element for peacekeeping by assisting the Lebanese Navy in securing the maritime border of Lebanon.

Mr Chairman.

Finally, the EU wishes to highlight the need to grant all necessary financial means to the Secretary-General to implement the provisions of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006). It goes without saying, however, that we also expect the Secretary-General to present budget proposals that reflect the most efficient way of delivering the peacekeeping mandates.

Thank you, Mr Chairman.


* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

| Arriba |

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• EUHR Solana offers his condolences following the death in Lebanon of six soldiers in the Spanish contingent of UNIFIL (24/6/2007)
• EUHR Solana expresses EU's full support for Lebanese PM Siniora (23/5/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Financing of Peacekeeping Operations, PKO budgets for 2007/2008 (10/5/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations: Financing the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (2/4/2007)
• EU Council Conclusions on Lebanon (12/2/2007)
• Lebanon: EU Commission presents €500m assistance package at Paris Conference (24/1/2007)
• EU Presidency Statement - Financing of UN Peacekeeping forces in the Middle East: UN Interim Force in Lebanon  (13/12/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on Lebanon (13/11/2006)