Annan told the Lebanese government on Monday, on the first leg of an11-day visit to the Middle East, that he wants IDF hostages handed over to the Red Cross. He also told Israel to lift its blockade on Lebanon.
Access to Lebanon by air and sea has been stopped by Israel for the past seven weeks in order to prevent the terrorists from receiving new arms supplies. Israel has said it will not lift the blockade until the arms embargo on Hizbullah is enforced, as agreed in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
Annan met with a number of Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, who said after the meeting that he was optimistic about the future but was taking the long view. “This thing [the release of the hostages] is going to happen, but not within 24 hours,” he said. Annan appeared miffed at Siniora's laughter when discussing this issue.
“It’s not a buffet [table],” said Annan, referring to the ceasefire agreement which ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah which was touched off when the terror group kidnapped Goldwasser and Regev. “It’s not an a la carte menu where you choose and pick. We have to implement 1701 in its entirety, and I hope that all parties will pay attention and act in that spirit."
Lebanese government sources said Annan held separate talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Syrian-backed Shi’ite Muslim who has close ties with Hizbullah terrorists.
UNIFIL Expansion Moving Ahead
Turkey joined the list of countries that have agreed, in principle, to send troops to expand UNIFIL, as set forth in the resolution which calls for the deployment of 15,000 UNIFIL troops in southern Lebanon by October. The spokesman for the Turkish government declined to give specific numbers, however.
Annan met with European foreign ministers last week to push them to keep their pledges as well as increase the number of soldiers they are willing to send.
Some 7,000 troops have been promised, including 2,000 from France and some 2,500 from Italy. On Monday, the Italian Cabinet approved participation in the UN force. Romania also agreed to send troops.
Hizbullah Dismantles Observation Posts
Hizbullah has begun to make progress on its compliance with Resolution 1701, according to Lebanese security forces. They reported Monday that the terrorist guerillas had dismantled 14 observation points along the border with Israel.
Hizbullah terrorists reportedly plowed over underground bunkers and took down 14 lookout posts across from the Shebaa Farms area on the lower slopes of Har Dov, on the western side of Mount Hermon. Sources said that Hizbullah is taking its equipment northward.
The Shebaa Farms area has been disputed. The UN agrees with Israel that the Jewish State won the land from Syria, not Lebanon, in the Six Day War in 1967. Hizbullah has claimed the small area belongs to Lebanon and has cited the dispute as a basis for attacks on Israel. It frequently attacked IDF positions on Har Dov over the past several years.
Access to Lebanon by air and sea has been stopped by Israel for the past seven weeks in order to prevent the terrorists from receiving new arms supplies. Israel has said it will not lift the blockade until the arms embargo on Hizbullah is enforced, as agreed in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
Annan met with a number of Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, who said after the meeting that he was optimistic about the future but was taking the long view. “This thing [the release of the hostages] is going to happen, but not within 24 hours,” he said. Annan appeared miffed at Siniora's laughter when discussing this issue.
“It’s not a buffet [table],” said Annan, referring to the ceasefire agreement which ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah which was touched off when the terror group kidnapped Goldwasser and Regev. “It’s not an a la carte menu where you choose and pick. We have to implement 1701 in its entirety, and I hope that all parties will pay attention and act in that spirit."
Lebanese government sources said Annan held separate talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Syrian-backed Shi’ite Muslim who has close ties with Hizbullah terrorists.
UNIFIL Expansion Moving Ahead
Turkey joined the list of countries that have agreed, in principle, to send troops to expand UNIFIL, as set forth in the resolution which calls for the deployment of 15,000 UNIFIL troops in southern Lebanon by October. The spokesman for the Turkish government declined to give specific numbers, however.
Annan met with European foreign ministers last week to push them to keep their pledges as well as increase the number of soldiers they are willing to send.
Some 7,000 troops have been promised, including 2,000 from France and some 2,500 from Italy. On Monday, the Italian Cabinet approved participation in the UN force. Romania also agreed to send troops.
Hizbullah Dismantles Observation Posts
Hizbullah has begun to make progress on its compliance with Resolution 1701, according to Lebanese security forces. They reported Monday that the terrorist guerillas had dismantled 14 observation points along the border with Israel.
Hizbullah terrorists reportedly plowed over underground bunkers and took down 14 lookout posts across from the Shebaa Farms area on the lower slopes of Har Dov, on the western side of Mount Hermon. Sources said that Hizbullah is taking its equipment northward.
The Shebaa Farms area has been disputed. The UN agrees with Israel that the Jewish State won the land from Syria, not Lebanon, in the Six Day War in 1967. Hizbullah has claimed the small area belongs to Lebanon and has cited the dispute as a basis for attacks on Israel. It frequently attacked IDF positions on Har Dov over the past several years.