A diplomatic report from New York, cited by the Lebanese Daily Star, showed that United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was satisfied with the relative quiet now prevailing on the border between Lebanon and Israel.
However, the paper quoted a diplomatic source as refusing to describe this status quo as a cease-fire but as self-discipline exercised by both the Lebanese and Israeli sides.
“This cease-fire could fall at any moment,” the source said. “The present stability is due to the fact that Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon is busy with his country’s military confrontation with the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.”
At the end of April, Annan is due to issue a report containing new ideas regarding the composition of UNIFIL, whose present mandate expires July 31, the same diplomatic report said.
“So far, there are no indications as to which way Annan’s new ideas will go regarding the mandate renewal. But some indications are due to materialize after the Easter holidays,” the report said – Albawaba.com
