Media Home
UN Web TV
UN PhotoUN / LEBANON SYRIA
STORY: UN / LEBANON
TRT: 05:44
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 17 JANUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN Headquarters
17 JANUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Med shot, Lebanon and Syrian ambassadors, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“With additional capabilities in the south and a renewed commitment from the Lebanese Armed Forces to fulfil their obligations under resolution 1701, we expect further improvements in the collaboration with UNIFIL moving forward.”
4. Med shot, Israeli ambassadors
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“Noting that the Israel Defense Forces has stated that its actions are targeting Hizbullah assets and personnel, the continued presence of the Israel Defense Forces in Lebanon is a violation of resolution 1701 and should cease. We urge the Israel Defense Forces to withdraw from Lebanese territory without delay, certainly by the end of the period envisaged in the announcement of the cessation of hostilities.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“Critical to supporting the full implementation of resolution 1701 is the mission’s unrestricted freedom of movement and full access throughout its area of operations. Currently – seven weeks since the cessation of hostilities came into effect - most contingents remain confined to base and, on occasion, must seek shelter in bunkers due to nearby IDF military activity or IDF advisories for UNIFIL take shelter for their safety and security.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“While challenges remain, there is reason for optimism, coupled with strong determination that there be no return to the past. Confidence in security and stability along the Blue Line is necessary for the communities of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The ongoing returns of residents to southern Lebanon will continue as Israeli forces withdraw and as reconstruction efforts gather speed. I note that Israel has also presented a plan for the return of its residents to communities close to the Blue Line, in March 2025.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Major General Patrick Gauchat, Head, Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO):
“UNDOF personnel, supported by UNTSO military observers serving in Observer Group Golan, remain at all their positions occupied before December 2024.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Major General Patrick Gauchat, Head, Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO):
“The Israel Defense Forces remain present in the area of separation. The IDF continue to carry out construction work inside the area of separation with heavy equipment. They also set up communication equipment inside the area of separation.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Major General Patrick Gauchat, Head, Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO):
“I must restate that the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between the State of Israel and the State of Syria remains valid. The full operational movements of UN personnel in the area of separation, including patrolling and logistics movement, have been impacted by the IDF presence and roadblocks in that area.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Major General Patrick Gauchat, Head, Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO):
There should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation, other than ONDOF. It is imperative that all parties respect their obligations under the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement and uphold the terms of the Agreement to preserve stability on the Golan.”
18. Med shot, Security Council
19. Wide shot, Security Council
20. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Roua Zoghbi, Counselor, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Lebanon:
“Lebanon reaffirms its commitment to and adherence to Security Council Resolution 1701, including the declaration of a cessation of hostilities and related commitments to enhanced security arrangements.”
21. Wide shot, Security Council
22. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Roua Zoghbi, Counselor, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Lebanon:
“Lebanon stresses the need to respect its sovereignty, the safety of its internationally recognized borders, and the withdrawal of Israel from all Lebanese territories without delay, within the 60-day timeframe stipulated by the declaration.”
23. Med shot, Lebanon and Syrian ambassadors
24. SOUNDBITE (English) Danny Danon, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Israel:
“We will act against any threat to our security. Israel will not allow security threats to take root on its borders, as Hamas and Hizballah did. The international community should take concrete steps to prevent weapon smuggling and Hizballah military rebuilding efforts. Failure to act would only invite further instability.”
25. Wide shot, Security Council
26. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Koussay Aldahhak, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syrian Arab Republic:
“Syria calls on the Security Council to immediately compel Israeli occupation authorities to withdraw unconditionally from areas they recently entered in Syria and to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. My country has repeatedly reaffirmed—most recently yesterday—its firm and inalienable right to fully restore the occupied Syrian Golan in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, rejecting any Israeli attempts to impose a new reality of occupation.”
27. Wide shot, Security Council
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, “Confidence in security and stability along the Blue Line is necessary for the communities of southern Lebanon and northern Israel.”
Addressing the Security Council today (17 Jan), Lacroix said, “With additional capabilities in the south and a renewed commitment from the Lebanese Armed Forces to fulfil their obligations under resolution 1701, we expect further improvements in the collaboration with UNIFIL moving forward.”
Noting that the Israel Defense Forces has stated that its actions are targeting Hizbullah assets and personnel, Lacroix added, that the continued presence of the Israel Defense Forces in Lebanon is a violation of resolution 1701 and should cease.
He then urged the Israel Defense Forces to withdraw from Lebanese territory “without delay, certainly by the end of the period envisaged in the announcement of the cessation of hostilities.”
He stressed, “Critical to supporting the full implementation of resolution 1701 is the mission’s unrestricted freedom of movement and full access throughout its area of operations. Currently – seven weeks since the cessation of hostilities came into effect - most contingents remain confined to base and, on occasion, must seek shelter in bunkers due to nearby IDF military activity or IDF advisories for UNIFIL take shelter for their safety and security.”
He concluded, “While challenges remain, there is reason for optimism, coupled with strong determination that there be no return to the past. Confidence in security and stability along the Blue Line is necessary for the communities of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The ongoing returns of residents to southern Lebanon will continue as Israeli forces withdraw and as reconstruction efforts gather speed. I note that Israel has also presented a plan for the return of its residents to communities close to the Blue Line, in March 2025.”
Major General Patrick Gauchat, Head of the Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), said “UNDOF personnel, supported by UNTSO military observers serving in Observer Group Golan, remain at all their positions occupied before December 2024.”
He also said, “The Israel Defense Forces remain present in the area of separation. The IDF continue to carry out construction work inside the area of separation with heavy equipment. They also set up communication equipment inside the area of separation.”
He then restated that the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between the State of Israel and the State of Syria remains valid.
He stated, “The full operational movements of UN personnel in the area of separation, including patrolling and logistics movement, have been impacted by the IDF presence and roadblocks in that area.”
He stressed, “There should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation, other than ONDOF. It is imperative that all parties respect their obligations under the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement and uphold the terms of the Agreement to preserve stability on the Golan.”
Roua Zoghbi, Counselor of the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to the United Nations said, “Lebanon reaffirms its commitment to and adherence to Security Council Resolution 1701, including the declaration of a cessation of hostilities and related commitments to enhanced security arrangements.”
She also said, “Lebanon stresses the need to respect its sovereignty, the safety of its internationally recognized borders, and the withdrawal of Israel from all Lebanese territories without delay, within the 60-day timeframe stipulated by the declaration.”
Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations said, “We will act against any threat to our security. Israel will not allow security threats to take root on its borders, as Hamas and Hizballah did. The international community should take concrete steps to prevent weapon smuggling and Hizballah military rebuilding efforts. Failure to act would only invite further instability.”
Koussay Aldahhak, Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said, “Syria calls on the Security Council to immediately compel Israeli occupation authorities to withdraw unconditionally from areas they recently entered in Syria and to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. My country has repeatedly reaffirmed—most recently yesterday—its firm and inalienable right to fully restore the occupied Syrian Golan in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, rejecting any Israeli attempts to impose a new reality of occupation.”
Download
There is no media available to download.
