France considers only symbolic force for UN
Reuters UK ^ | Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:45 PM BST | Crispian Balmer
today.reuters.co.uk
PARIS (Reuters) - France is considering providing only a symbolic force for the United Nations contingent in Lebanon, and not the thousands of troops UN officials had hoped, Le Monde newspaper said on Thursday.
If true, such a move could seriously delay the UN mission, seen as vital to securing peace between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas, or even scupper the whole operation.
Quoting U.N. and diplomatic sources, Le Monde said France might send just a dozen officers and around 200 personnel from an engineering division for the beefed-up UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
President Jacques Chirac's office said the military options "were still under review".
A French diplomatic source said France had always highlighted the dangers of such a mission and said the conditions for the operation had to be clarified.
The source added there was no turnaround in the French position and no misunderstanding with the United Nations.
French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said on Wednesday that France was willing to lead the UN force until at least February, so long as it was given a clear mandate.
However, she declined to say how many troops France would commit to UNIFIL, which is eventually expected to consist of 15,000 soldiers, up from 2,000 at present. |
