Lebanese PM expresses strong willingness that France keeps its forces as part of UNIFIL mission in South Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed his “strong willingness that France keeps its forces” as part of the UNIFIL mission in South Lebanon, a statement issued by Miqati’s press office on Saturday said.

In a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy in response to the latter’s recent letter, Miqati said that Lebanon is keen on implementing U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and consolidating the ties between the Lebanese army and foreign troops. He vowed to work on preventing further attacks on peacekeepers.

On July 26, three French U.N. peacekeepers were wounded in a roadside bombing in the southern city of Sidon, and another three suffered hearing problems. Nobody claimed responsibility for that attack, which targeted a UNIFIL jeep on the main highway linking Beirut to south Lebanon, where the 12,000-strong force is deployed.

The premier also thanked Sarkozy for “France’s continued support for Lebanon and its commitment to preserve its (Lebanon’s) independence and sovereignty.”

In his letter, dated August 3, Sarkozy warned that Paris would consider pulling its troops from UNIFIL if it comes under attack again. “If the July 26, 2011 attack takes place again then France would wonder whether there is any reason to keep its troops to confront the dangers that the host country is not dealing with appropriately,” he said.