(Communicated by Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
June 19, 2000
Following the Security Council statement of June 18, endorsing
the report of UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process, Mr. Terje Larsen, and the declaration of UN Secretary
General, Mr. Kofi Annan, of June 16 regarding the completion of
the Israeli withdrawal to the international border with Lebanon,
Foreign Minister Levy stated that this constituted an official
endorsement of Israel's implementation of Security Council
Resolution 425.
Levy added that in view of the Security Council statement, Israel
expects the other parts of the resolution to be carried out,
which, among other things, call for calm on the northern border
and the creation of conditions for peace and security in southern
Lebanon.
Foreign Minister Levy, who met with Secretary General Annan and
Special Coordinator Larsen, and who was one of the leaders behind
the move that led to the IDF withdrawal to the international
border, calls for the implementation of the parts of the
resolution stipulating that the Lebanese Army must deploy its
forces up to the border with Israel.
In response to the reservations of the Lebanese government
regarding the Israeli withdrawal to the international border,
Minister Levy said that Israel has carried out its part of
Security Council Resolution 425, and will continue to cooperate
with the UN, with the intention of bringing security to its
residents on the Northern border and in order to bring about calm
in the region, in general, with the aim of advancing the peace
process, together with the Lebanese government which is now
responsible for what happens in its territory.