Annan: Europe to send 6,900 troops to Lebanon
UN Secretary-General says Europe has agreed to provide more than half of an expanded peacekeeping force for Lebanon, with nearly 7,000 troops; adds he hopes force would be able to deploy in days, not weeks
"Europe is providing the backbone of the force," Annan said after an emergency meeting with EU foreign ministers.
"We can now begin to put together a credible force."
He said he asked France - which dramatically increased its pledged contribution to 2,000 troops late Thursday – to lead the force until February 2007. After this date, Italy will head up the force.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said that Italian soldiers could set out for Lebanon by this Tuesday. According to the Prime Minister, the government will issue formal approval for the deployment of troops in Lebanon on Monday and is willing to send troops immediately.
Overcoming initial concerns
European countries appeared to have overcome initial concern about being caught in the middle between Israel and Hizbullah. France, in particular, earlier held back from promising a large contribution and demanded a clearer definition of the mission and the rules of engagement.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Annan gave guarantees for the safety of European troops and on rules of engagement, and that France wanted an arms-free "exclusion zone" in south Lebanon.
"We think the best solution for disarming Hizbullah is to make an exclusion zone with the retreat of the Israeli army on one side and the deployment of the Lebanese Army on the other, reinforced by the UN troops," he said.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said that she was satisfied with the EU's decision.
"The decision will advance the implementation of UN Resolution 1701," she said.
On Sunday, Livni is expected to visit Germany, where she will meet with the chancellor and the foreign minister.
Disarmament of Hizbullah cannot be done by force
Annan said the United Nations also had received "firm commitments" from Muslim nations Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh, and was consulting with Turkey about joining the peacekeeping force.
Israel has expressed concern, however, about contingents from Muslim countries with which it does not have relations.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, called on Israel to lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon. Ending the blockade has been linked to forming a UN Force.
Annan said that the UN force would be able to deploy along the Lebanese-Syrian border to help prevent weapons shipments to Hizbullah, but only if the Lebanese government asked for such help. Lebanon, to date, as neither asked for this nor ruled it out – but Syrian President Bashar Assad has strongly objected.
"It is generally accepted that the disarmament of Hizbullah cannot be done by force," Annan told reporters. "The troops are not going there to disarm Hizbullah, let's be clear on that."
Ronny Sofer contributed to the report
