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STORY: UN / LEBANON LACROIX INTERVIEW
TRT: 03:44
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 01 NOVEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters
01 NOVEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
2. Wide shot, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix interviewed by the Director of the United Nations News and Media Division, Ian Phillips
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“It's high time for a cease fire in Lebanon. That's quite clear. And yes, there are diplomatic efforts to that effect. I'm not sure that we're there yet, looking at the recent statements from different parties, but those efforts are very important. We support them.”
4. Med shot, Lacroix and Phillips
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“UNIFIL peacekeepers are staying, they are holding the line, and they're determined to continue doing what they're mandated to do. What's very important is that the peacekeepers, UNIFIL, has the overwhelming support of member states.”
6. Wide shot, Lacroix and Phillips
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“We were told by the Israeli authorities that this request for UNIFIL peacekeepers to move five kilometres far from the Blue Line was for the purpose of protecting the safety and security of peacekeepers. But we made a very considered decision that it was critical to stay, first of all, because there is a mandate, and we have to we are duty-bound to the mandate. The peacekeepers need to stay. Second, because we thought that if those positions along the Blue Line are abandoned, then they would likely be occupied by one party or the other. And that would be very bad for many reasons, including the perception of impartiality and neutrality of the of the United Nations.”
8. Med shot, Lacroix and Phillips
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“We have more than 40 troop contributing countries. It's very diverse. We have troop contributing countries from all continents and they are all very committed. I mean, the peacekeepers are all very committed to their mandate, to their duty. And I have seen that time and again. And we can see that perhaps more clearly than ever, you know, in terms of what they're doing. Of course, it's not, these are not very easy conditions for our peacekeepers right now, but they're very resilient.”
10. Wide shot, Lacroix and Phillips
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“Their role is really to support the implementation of a political solution. And the elements of that political solution are in Resolution 2719 of the Security Council.”
12. Wide shot, Lacroix and Phillips
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“Attacks against peacekeepers are unacceptable, they are a violation of international law. And, you know, we have been repeatedly reminding the parties of their obligation to protect the peacekeepers, the safety and security of the peacekeepers. It's not an option. It's an obligation. Now, we've had eight peacekeepers injured since the beginning of the operation.”
14. Wide shot, Lacroix and Phillips
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“I think we've seen this information about the role of UNIFIL. And I think some of it, some of this disinformation tends to sort of suggest that, you know, the UNIFIL’s role was to implement the political solution, was to implement even enforced Resolution 1701 of the Security Council. Obviously, that is not the case. There is a lot that UNIFIL can do, and has done, and will do if there is a cease fire in terms of supporting the parties. But it's for them. It's for the parties. There has to be a political will from the parties to implement a political solution, to implement the element of Resolution 1701.”
16. Various shots, Lacroix and Phillips
Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix today (1 Nov) said peacekeepers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) “are staying, they are holding the line, and they're determined to continue doing what they're mandated to do.”
In an interview with the UN’s News and Media Division Director, Ian Phillips, Lacroix said it was “high time for a cease fire in Lebanon,” but conceded that “we're there yet, looking at the recent statements from different parties.”
He stressed that UNIFIL “has the overwhelming support of member states.”
Despite a request by Israeli authorities for UNIFIL peacekeepers to move five kilometres far from the Blue Line, Lacroix said, “we made a very considered decision that it was critical to stay, first of all, because there is a mandate, and we have to we are duty-bound to the mandate. The peacekeepers need to stay. Second, because we thought that if those positions along the Blue Line are abandoned, then they would likely be occupied by one party or the other. And that would be very bad for many reasons, including the perception of impartiality and neutrality of the of the United Nations.”
The Peacekeeping Chief explained that UNIFIL has “more than 40” troop contributing countries “from all continents” and they “are all very committed to their mandate, to their duty.” He noted that “their role is really to support the implementation of a political solution.”
He stressed that “attacks against peacekeepers are unacceptable, they are a violation of international law. And, you know, we have been repeatedly reminding the parties of their obligation to protect the peacekeepers, the safety and security of the peacekeepers. It's not an option. It's an obligation.”
Eight UNIFIL peacekeepers have been injured since the beginning of Israeli operations in Lebanon.
Lacroix said, “I think we've seen this information about the role of UNIFIL. And I think some of it, some of this disinformation tends to sort of suggest that, you know, the UNIFIL’s role was to implement the political solution, was to implement even enforced Resolution 1701 of the Security Council. Obviously, that is not the case. There is a lot that UNIFIL can do, and has done, and will do if there is a cease fire in terms of supporting the parties. But it's for them. It's for the parties. There has to be a political will from the parties to implement a political solution, to implement the element of Resolution 1701.”
Adopted unanimously in 2006, the purpose of resolution 1701 continues to be about ending hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with the Council calling for a permanent ceasefire to be based on the creation of a buffer zone.
By the resolution, the Council decided to take steps to ensure peace, among them authorising an increase of force strength of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to a maximum of 15,000 troops that would, among other things, monitor the cessation of hostilities, support Lebanese armed forces as Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon and ensure the safe return of displaced persons.
