ANKARA, 7 September 2006 — UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan wrapped up a trip focused on the Middle East yesterday by securing a key commitment for Turkish troops to join the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon. Hours after Annan called on Israel to lift its blockade on war-ravaged Lebanon, Jerusalem responded positively, announcing that it will lift its sea and air blockade of Lebanon this evening.
A statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office said international forces would replace the Israelis at command positions over Lebanese seaports and airports. Annan had expressed hope that Jerusalem would quickly lift the embargo within the next 36 to 48 hours.
Israel has been maintaining the blockade since the beginning of its 34-day-long offensive in Lebanon, which ended with an Aug. 14 cease-fire. The Israeli statement said the blockade was necessary to prevent arms shipments to Hezbollah fighters. Annan — on the tail end of 11-day trip to the region — also renewed a call for an Israeli troop pullout from Lebanon, calling it “crucial” to peacekeeping. Annan also urged Hezbollah fighters based in southern Lebanon to disarm. It was not clear if Hezbollah would heed Annan’s call.
The UN has had 2,000 peacekeepers in Lebanon but is starting to send thousands more into the region to monitor the tenuous truce. “When 5,000 international troops are on the ground ... we will have a credible force and it will be time for Israel to withdraw completely,” Annan said.
Annan arrived in Turkey on Tuesday - hours before its Parliament voted to send troops to Lebanon, becoming the first Muslim country with diplomatic relations to Israel to join the UN force. Annan called the Turkish decision “a sign of international solidarity” — the spirit he sought during his Mideast tour.
Turkish officials, mindful of strong opposition in Turkey to deployment, have said its contribution would not exceed 1,000, and stated that Turkish soldiers would not undertake the task of disarming Hezbollah. Thousands of protesters have protested the deployment, with many fearing it will lead to Turks confronting fellow Muslims. Police detained 30 stone-throwing protesters yesterday.
Annan said Lebanon — not foreign troops — must reach a national consensus on disarming Hezbollah militants. “The remaining ones should disarm and devote all their energy to political activities to transform themselves into parties,” he said.
