First new UN troops in Lebanon within a week

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Thursday August 24, 2006

Berlin- Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the European Union presidency, said Thursday he expected the first additional United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon to arrive next week. Speaking after talks in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Tuomioja declined to give any figures for the number of EU troops anticipated in the planned 15,000-strong force.

The boost was agreed August 11 under Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants.

Tuomioja said he expected concrete figures to be announced at a meeting of the EU's 25 foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday.

Asked when the first additional troops to back up 2,000 UNIFIL soldiers already in Lebanon would arrive, Tuomioja said: "Within a week if possible."

He added however that the full force would not be in place for "two months or more."

Steinmeier said it was now clear that Italy, which has offered between 2,000 and 3,000 troops, would play the lead role in the Lebanese peacekeeping force.

A final decision on Italy's role is expected at the Brussels meeting, which will be attended by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

"Tomorrow's meeting will be very important for the credibility of the EU," said Tuomioja, adding that the EU had a central role in the Lebanon mission. Without Europe, the peacekeeping mission could not proceed.

Both the United States and Britain have declined to send any ground troops to Lebanon.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur