LEBANON: U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SEEKS COOPERATION FROM HIZBILLAH GUERRILLAS
Record ID:
222891
LEBANON: U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SEEKS COOPERATION FROM HIZBILLAH GUERRILLAS
- Title: LEBANON: U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SEEKS COOPERATION FROM HIZBILLAH GUERRILLAS
- Date: 21st June 2000
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (JUNE 20, 2000)(REUTERS) 1. MV UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SHAKES HANDS WITH HIZBOLLAH CHIEF HASSAN NASRALLAH AT THE HIZBOLLAH'S HQ IN THE SOUTHERN SUBURB OF BEIRUT 0.09 2. MV/SCU ANNAN AND NASRALLAH CHAT THROUGH THE AID OF AN INTERPRETER (2 SHOTS) 0.29 3. MV ANNAN WITH U.N STAFF AT BEIRUT AIRPORT (2 SHOTS) 0.41 4. SOUNDBITE (English) ANNAN SAYING: "We have discussed the developments in the south and the need for cooperation between the United Nations, the government and non-state actors. The cooperation has always been good. I have asked UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) to continue its work to verify the alleged violations. We take any violations seriously and we will be vigilant in investigating each violation and ensure they are corrected. We also keep the Security Council and the world informed of any violation. I also have the chance to discuss the plans for economic and social development in the south where UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and World Bank will be working with the government to do that." 1.35 5. SCU CAMERA OPERATORS 1.36 6. MV ANNAN AND LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER SELIM ALHOSS WALKING ON TARMAC 1.43 7. LAS ANNAN WALKS TO PLANE 1.52 8. SLV ALHOSS LEAVING 2.05 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 6th July 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Reuters ID: LVA1B5AFA31T56Z70UN60ASGD4BF
- Story Text: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has sought the
cooperation of Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrillas, telling its
head he would pursue the issue of border violations and
Lebanese held in Israeli jails.
Annan, at the end of a visit to Beirut marked by
Lebanese anger over the U.N. decision to confirm Israeli
troops have withdrawn, met Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah at his
headquarters in the southern suburbs of the capital.
"We have discussed development of the south and the need
for cooperation between UNIFIL, the government and non-state
actors," Annan said before leaving Beirut airport for Jordan.
Hizbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, is a
Lebanese Shiite Moslem organisation formed after Israel's
major 1982 invasion of Lebanon.
Meetings between the organisation, which Washington has
accused of terrorist acts, and foreign leaders are rare.
The support of Hizbollah, which led the drive to end
Israel's 22-year occupation of south Lebanon and is now the
main force in the area, is vital to the U.N.'s plan to deploy
the UNIFIL peacekeeping force toward the Israeli border.
The Lebanese government, echoed by Hizbollah, has accused
Israel of continuing to occupy Lebanese land in violation of a
withdrawal line defined by U.N. cartographers since Israeli
troops withdrew from the area last month.
"I indicated that we, as the United Nations, take all
violations very seriously and I have instructed UNIFIL to be
vigilant," Annan told reporters.
Annan said he would also take up Lebanese demands that
Israel release Lebanese prisoners, many of whom are associated
with Hizbollah.
Some have been held as hostages to trade for information
on an Israeli airman who disappeared after he was shot down on
a bombing mission over Lebanon in 1986.
The U.N. head noted the importance of cooperation between
U.N. peacekeepers and Hizbollah.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None