BEIRUT, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed on Wednesday Lebanon's gratitude to the members of the UN Security Council for renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for a year.
"The UN Security Council voted unanimously a short while ago on the resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for an additional year," Mikati was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers.
"I thank the friendly and sisterly countries that supported the extension, especially Algeria, which led the campaign to support the extension resolution and continues to stand by Lebanon in all fields. We thank all members of the Security Council who voted in favor of the extension," Mikati said.
The renewal of the UNIFIL's mandate is essential to maintaining stability in southern Lebanon, he noted.
Mikati said Lebanon is committed to working closely with UNIFIL to address the challenges to stability in the south, and implementing relevant international resolutions, foremost among which is UN Resolution 1701.
The mandate for the operation of UNIFIL, which has been holding patrols along Lebanon's southern border with Israel since its establishment in 1978, is renewed annually. The extension would allow the peacekeeping mission to operate for another year until Aug. 31, 2025. ■
