Kathmandu, Oct 15: Nepal has strongly condemned the recent attacks on the UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon and urged parties of the conflict to guarantee their safety and security.
“Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated,” Nepal has said in a statement.
A 34 UNIFIL-contributing countries has also issued a joint statement regarding the recent attacks by Israel Defence Force (IDF) in the southern Lebanon. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF have already warned UN peacekeeping mission to leave southern Lebanon. Israel has launched a massive attack against Hezbollah who are believed to be based in southern Lebanon, thereby dragging a wider conflict in Middle East.
The statement has stated that “As the countries contributors to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon we reaffirm our full support for UNIFIL’s mission and activities, whose principal aim is to bring stabilisation and lasting peace in South Lebanon as well as in the Middle East, in line with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
“We consider UNIFIL’s role as particularly crucial in light of the escalating situation in the region. We therefore strongly condemn recent attacks on the UNIFIL peacekeepers. Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated.
“We urge the parties of the conflict to respect UNIFIL’s presence, which entails the obligation to guarantee the safety and security of its personnel at all times, so that they can continue to implement its mandate and continue their work of mediation and support for peace and stability in Lebanon and the entire region.
“We reiterate our commitment to multilateral cooperation with the UN at its core. We call for respect for the international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations as well as the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.”
The countries who signed the statement include:
Republic of Armenia, of Austria, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Federative Republic of Brazil, Kingdom of Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Fiji, Republic of Finland, Republic of France, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Guatemala, Hungary, Republic of Indonesia, Ireland, Republic of Italy, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Latvia, Malaysia, Republic of Malta, Mongolia, Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands, Republic of Poland, State of Qatar, Republic of Sierra Leone, Kingdom of Spain, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Republic of Türkiye, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania.
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