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STORY: LEBANON / LACROIX PRESSER
TRT: 04:39
SOURCE: UNIFIL
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 14 NOVEMBER 2024, BEIRUT, LEBANON
1. Wide shot, UN USG Jean-Pierre Lacroix and UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro entering building to meet Lebanese Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“These are difficult times. We all know this, but also, since I am the head of the department of peace operation, and solidarity with our colleagues at UNIFIL. As you know, they are undergoing a difficult situation as well. This is a combat environment.”
3. Wide shot, USG Lacroix and Lieutenant General Lázaro with the Lebanese Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“The peacekeepers continue to be deployed in all the positions. We think it is very important to preserve that presence everywhere. Why? Because UNIFIL has a mandate from the UN Security Council, and therefore we feel that we are duty bound to this mandate. We have to do everything possible so that UNIFIL continues to be in a position today, and also tomorrow. And we have been saying that had we vacated some of the position, then that would have certainly jeopardized the capacity for UNIFIL to continue today, but perhaps even more importantly, that would have significantly undermined the capacity for UNIFIL to play a role tomorrow, when the cessation of austerity takes place, hopefully sooner than later.”
5. Wide shot, USG Lacroix, Lieutenant General Lázaro in discussions with Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“We also indicated that staying in the positions, in all the position ensures that those positions will not be used by others. And that is, of course, critically important, because we have a responsibility to making sure that the UN is continues to be seen as neutral and impartial. And of course, any other party being seen as using a UN facility, a UN position, then that would have been extremely negative from that point of view as well.”
7. Wide shot, USG Lacroix and Lieutenant General Lázaro entering building to meet Minister of Defense Maurice Sleem
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“You are very familiar with the repeated messages emanating from UN at all level, which is that we call for an immediate ceasefire."
9. Wide shot, USG Lacroix and Lieutenant General Lázaro entering building to meet Minister of Defense Maurice Sleem
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“That is absolutely something that we insist on, any role, meaningful role for UNIFIL, in terms of supporting the implementation by the parties would have to have, as a prerequisite, the full compliance to for mobile to fully implement resolution 1701. Now, assuming that we have those conditions, then we are looking at how UNIFIL could be adapted in terms of its presence, its footprint, its capacities. The extent to which we could do more in terms of supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, because the redeployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces is an absolutely central element to any durable settlement, and we are aware and we appreciate the decision that were made by the Lebanese authorities in that regard, with their commitment to proceed with more recruitment and more training and elevate the level of preparedness of the Lebanese Armed Forces.”
11. Wide shot, USG Lacroix and Lieutenant General Lázaro in discussions with Minister of Defense Maurice Sleem
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“I had discussions with His Excellency Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Chief of the Lebanese Army, so the leadership in Lebanon, as well as, as I indicated, the representative of the member states, the diplomatic community, including the representative of the Troop-Contributing [Countries]. And I want to end by really thanking our colleagues at UNIFIL and really expressing our very immense gratitude to them for what they're doing, their resilience, their courage, their determination and dedication."
13. Wide shot, UN USG Jean-Pierre Lacroix in the meeting with representatives of Troop-Contributing Countries
Under Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix emphasized the critical role of UNIFIL in maintaining peace and stability in a "combat environment," underscoring the importance of preserving its presence to uphold its UN Security Council mandate. “These are difficult times." Lacroix stated, adding, “As Head of the Department of Peace Operations, I stand in solidarity with our colleagues at UNIFIL."
Briefing reporters during his visit to Lebanon, Lacroix reiterated today (14 Nov) that UN peacekeepers "continue to be deployed in all the positions," stressing the importance of their presence. “We think it is very important to preserve that presence everywhere. Why? Because UNIFIL has a mandate from the UN Security Council, and therefore we feel that we are duty bound to this mandate. We have to do everything possible so that UNIFIL continues to be in a position today, and also tomorrow,” he said. He warned that vacating positions “would have certainly jeopardize the capacity for UNIFIL to continue today,” and emphasized that “perhaps even more importantly, that would have significantly undermined the capacity for UNIFIL to play a role tomorrow, when the cessation of austerity takes place, hopefully sooner than later.”
The Under-Secretary-General emphasized the strategic importance of maintaining these positions, ensuring they are not used by other parties, which could compromise UN neutrality. “We have a responsibility to make sure that the UN continues to be seen as neutral and impartial. And of course, any other party being seen as using a UN facility, a UN position, then that would have been extremely negative from that point of view as well.”
In line with the UN's stance, Lacroix called for an "immediate ceasefire," stressing that "any role, meaningful role for UNIFIL, in terms of supporting the implementation by the parties would have to have, as a prerequisite, the full compliance to for mobile to fully implement resolution 1701." He acknowledged Lebanese authorities’ efforts, noting their commitment to “proceed with more recruitment and more training and elevate the level of preparedness of the Lebanese Armed Forces."
Lacroix also met with Lebanese leaders, including the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament, the Minister of Defense, and representatives of troop-contributing countries, expressing "immense gratitude" to UNIFIL personnel "for what they're doing, their resilience, their courage, their determination and dedication."
