UN Chief: Cooperation between LAF and IDF might solve crisis

U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to the UNIFIL headquarters in South Lebanon on Saturday morning to confirm that these forces are in Lebanon are for pure humanitarian purposes.

Ban praised the efforts of the UNIFIL in implementing UNSC resolution 1701 despite all obstacles, stressing on the importance of building trust between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israeli Defense Forces to reach an agreement in the region.    

Ban was met in full military honors where he laid a wreath on the memorial of 293 servicemen who gave their lives since 1978.

Taking the word, Ki-moon commended UNIFIL peace-keepers for their sacrifices and said they were doing a fairly good job with their Lebanese comrades in arms. He concluded that UNIFIL and the Lebanese military were networking partners for peace in South Lebanon.

Ban had a briefing by Assarta and senior officers over their peacekeeping tasks in the South and inspected the Blue-line before returning to Beirut.

The U.N. chief met consecutively with a number of political officials, namely former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, former President Amine Gemayel and MP Walid Jumblatt.