Germany Asked to Prolong Lebanon Force Mandate :: Namibia Internet Gateway cc ::

Articles: Germany Asked to Prolong Lebanon Force Mandate

Posted by Admin on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 08:39 PM

Germany is favorably considering a request to extend its mandate as leader of the naval component of the United Nations force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), government spokesmen said on Monday.

<i class="caption">Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: German ships are patrolling off the coast of Lebanon

"The United Nations has asked the German government to stay on in its commanding role for another rotation period," foreign ministry spokesman Jens Plötner told a press conference.

"We understand from New York that the request is based on a desire for continuity regarding the mission in Lebanon."

UNIFIL was deployed in the aftermath of Israel's devastating 34-day war last summer on Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Its naval component is meant to prevent arms being smuggled to Hezbollah by sea and has been headed since October by a contingent of some 850 German sailors.

Open to request

Chief government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said Berlin received the UN request for an extension in April after Chancellor Angela Merkel indicated during a visit to Beirut that Germany would consider such a demand.

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Germany is favorably considering a request to extend its mandate as leader of the naval component of the United Nations force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), government spokesmen said o­n Monday.

Germany is favorably considering a request to extend its mandate as leader of the naval component of the United Nations force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), government spokesmen said on Monday.