Security Council extends UNIFIL mandate until 31 January 1988, reiterates support for Lebanon's territorial integrity.

• Position: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

Security Council extends UNIFIL mandate until 31 January 1988, reiterates support for Lebanon's territorial integrity

THE SECURITY COUNCIL on 31 July extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a period of six months--until 31 January 1988. Since UNIFIL was established in March 1978, its mandate has been extended 22 times for periods ranging from one to six months. It was last extended on 15 January 1987. The 5,778-strong Force is commanded by Major-General Gustav Hagglund.

In unanimously adopting resolution 599 (1987), the Council also reiterated its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries. All parties concerned were called on to co-operate fully with the Force for full implementation of its mandate.

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar was also asked to continue consultations with the Government of Lebanon and other parties directly concerned and to report back to the Council.

In recommending extension of the mandate, Mr. Perez de Cuellar said it would help to "avoid a vacuum which could cause the present conflict to intensify and spread'. Because of the continuing Israeli presence and the inability of Lebanon's central Government to exercise effective authority, violence persisted in southern Lebanon, the Secretary-General reported.

Lebanon, in a 16 July letter to the Secretary-General (S/18999), stated it was convinced, despite the situation which existed in southern Lebanon as a result of the continued presence of the "Israeli occupation forces', UNIFIL continued to be an essential factor for stability and the best available option for ensuring peace and security in the region.

Unstable situation

In his report (S/18990) covering the period 12 January to 24 July 1987, Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar stated that the situation in southern Lebanon had remained highly unstable. Israel's refusal to withdraw completely and its insistence on maintaining the "security zone' continued to thwart efforts to start a process to restore international peace and stability in the area.

In the central part of UNIFIL's area and to the north of it, various Lebanese resistance groups had intensified their campaign against the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and its Lebanese allies, who had often responded with great violence to attacks against their positions, the Secretary-General said. The main sufferers from those...