De Riviere Stresses French Unit to Remain in UNIFIL

The director for United Nations and international organizations in the French Foreign Ministry Nicolas de Riviere renewed on Tuesday France’s support to Lebanon and its commitment to maintaining the stability and security of the South.

The French Embassy said in a statement: “De Riviere informed Lebanese officials during his trip to Lebanon that France will remain part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in order to preserve the stability of Lebanon and the region.”

De Riviere arrived in Lebanon on Monday as part of a two-day visit where he met with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Speaker Nabih Berri, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.

His talks focused on the revision of UNIFIL’s strategy, which is also being addressed by the peacekeeping unit at the United Nations.

The revision is aimed at studying ways in which progress can be achieved in the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, said the embassy statement.

Julian Harston, a veteran British diplomat and U.N. peacekeeping expert, is carrying out the review which is focusing on operational configuration and strategy of the mission, U.N. peacekeeping spokesman Kieran Dwyer told Agence France Presse last week.

Harston will complete his work in January or February and the U.N. Security Council will then decide what changes to make to the force.

De Riviere also reiterated French demands that the sides behind the December 9 attack against a French UNIFIL unit be uncovered and brought to justice.

Seven people, including five French soldiers, were wounded in a bomb attack that targeted the French patrol in the southern city of Tyre.

France has accused Syria of being behind the attack, saying that employed its ally Hizbullah to execute it.

Syria and the party have denied the allegations.