NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY WELCOMES UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S CONFIRMATION OF ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON
June 20, 2000 (4:45 p.m. EDT) No. 156
AXWORTHY WELCOMES UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S CONFIRMATION OF ISRAELI
WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy welcomed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's confirmation on June 16
that Israel has withdrawn its forces from South Lebanon. He also noted with satisfaction that the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) had formally endorsed the Secretary-General's conclusions this past Sunday.
"Canada is a long-standing supporter of Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Mr.
Axworthy. "The Israeli withdrawal is an important step toward a comprehensive peace in the Middle East."
The Minister also urged all parties to co-operate with the United Nations and to show restraint during the
transition. In addition, he called for the protection of innocent civilians and underlined the continuing importance
of maintaining stability and a positive atmosphere during this sensitive period.
"It is vital that the governments of the region do everything in their power to maintain order and calm as the
Government of Lebanon re-establishes its authority over the area," said Minister Axworthy. "Canada has
registered these points with Lebanon, Israel and Syria."
On Friday, the Secretary-General informed the UNSC, of which Canada is currently a member, that based on
assurances from all sides and developments on the ground, he was in a position to confirm that Israeli forces
have withdrawn from South Lebanon in compliance with Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426.
A presidential statement from the UNSC, released on June 18, welcomed with satisfaction the report of the
Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426 and endorsed the
Secretary-General's conclusion that, as of June 16, Israel had withdrawn its forces from Lebanon.
The Secretary-General is currently on a visit to the Middle East, from June 17 to 23, where he is working with
senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Syria to
encourage peace and calm in the region following the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
Resolutions 425 and 426 were passed by the Security Council in 1978. They called for respect of the territorial
integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon, the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and the
establishment of a peacekeeping operation called the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to
supervise the withdrawal.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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