U.N. wants assurances from Israel, Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 17 (UPI) -- Lebanese and Israeli officials need to put more effort behind maintaining U.N.-brokered cease-fire agreements, the U.N. special envoy to Lebanon said.

Michael Williams, the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon, met with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to discuss tensions along the southern border with Israel, the U.N. news center reported

The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, one of the longest standing peacekeeping missions, is tasked with monitoring the southern border and confirming Israel withdrew from contested areas.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which helped broker a cease-fire to a 2006 conflict between Hezbollah, calls on both sides to respect the so-called Blue Line separating both sides and urges non-state militias to lay down their weapons.

"We hope both sides exert more efforts to help push the current cessation of hostilities towards a long-term cease-fire," said Williams.

Williams added that Hariri provided assurances to the United Nations that Beirut would respect "the Blue Line in its entirety."

Border tensions remain high despite the cease-fire agreement. Israel has warned of steady Hezbollah militancy along the border, while Lebanon complains Israeli forces are routinely violating its airspace.

Williams noted the incursions, reminding Israel of its obligations to respect Lebanese sovereignty.