BEIRUT, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Tuesday reaffirmed its support to Lebanese Army, while vowing to maintain peace on the Lebanon-Israel border.
UNIFIL head General Stefano Del Col was quoted by the National News Agency as making the pledge during a ceremony to mark the 41st anniversary of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon.
Del Col said that the UNIFIL will spare no efforts to protect the civilians in the areas of its operation regardless of the source of aggression against Lebanon.
He added that the UNIFIL will continue its cooperation with the Lebanese Army to find a solution to the Lebanese-Israeli conflict.
"This is why we are keen to implement (UN) Resolution 1701 which is the only solution to long-term peace," Del Col said.
The resolution called for an end to the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, deployment of the Lebanese Army along the Israeli border, and establishment of a weapons-free zone south of the Litani River.
It also urged the Lebanese government to fully respect the Blue Line that demarcates the Lebanon-Israel border following Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.
