Lebanon: UNIFIL would stay in all its position - Media Stakeout | United Nations

Informal comments to the media by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, on the situation in Lebanon.
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Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters today (14 Oct) after the Security Council closed consultations in New York City, “the decision was made that UNIFIL would currently stay in all its position, in spite of the calls that were made by the Israeli Defense Forces to vacate the position that are in the vicinity of the Blue Line. I want to emphasize that this decision still remains.”
The Under-Secretary-General emphasized ongoing communication efforts. He said, “the liaison mechanism continues to work,” adding that he would be meeting with the Israeli Permanent Representative on Tuesday (15 Oct) for further discussions.
Lacroix also underscored the importance of maintaining open routes for UNIFIL’s operational needs. He said, "the movements that need to be carried out by UNIFIL with the purpose of resupplying position, with the purpose of supporting the civilian population, those movements need to be deconflicted, and they need to be also cleared by the parties, including the IDF."
Despite security concerns Lacroix reaffirmed the mission's commitment to peacekeeping in southern Lebanon. He appealed to all parties saying, "our main call to all the parties is to respect their international obligation when it comes to protecting the safety and security of peacekeepers."
Lacroix reiterated UNIFIL’s mandate, which is to aid in the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He said, “it's for the parties to implement resolution 1701. UNIFIL are not mandated to implement, and certainly not to enforce, resolution 1701.”