French president holds news conference on results of G8 summit
01.01.70
French President Jacques Chirac suggested devising a mechanism to control Lebanon's borders in view of the growing crisis in the Middle East. He said the mechanism should be managed by the UN Security Council.
"The UN Security Council should determine the terms of the operation of the mechanism," the French president said at a news conference in Strelna.
Chirac said in reply to a question about the mandate of the peacekeeping force in Lebanon: "The issue should be decided by the UN, but personally I think that the [force] should monitor the implementation of UN Resolution 1559."
The situation in the Middle East rapidly deteriorated when Israel began carrying out strikes on targets in Lebanon in response to the radical Hezbollah movement's attack on Israeli facilities and kidnapping of Israeli soldiers.
The French president also called for disarming military groups in Lebanon.
"It is inadmissible to let armed groups control the territory of Lebanon," he said.