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European Union weighs options of peacekeeping force

Updated: 24/Jul/2006 16:24

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European leaders are contemplating the option of a peacekeeping force to be sent to southern Lebanon as part of an eventual cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

While German Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s call for a peacekeeping force, many in her Christian Democrats party are of the contrary opinion.

The conflict, which began earlier this month with the kidnap of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah operatives, is close to entering its third week. It has caused hundreds of deaths and injuries and forced thousands to leave their homes and either move away or live in bomb shelters.

Reservations about proposal

"I’m very reserved about this proposal,’’ said Eckart von Klaeden, foreign affairs spokesman for the ruling Christian Democratic Union in a telephone interview with Bloomberg from his Hildesheim constituency, adding that his views are shared within the party."It’s unclear to me what kind of mandate this force is supposed to have.’’

Von Klaeden continued to say that nothing should hinder the Lebanese from complying with the United Nations resolution which demands the demilitarization of Hezbollah and that the Lebanese army should be deployed along the Israel-Lebanon border.

The debate came after UN secretary general Kofi Annan called for a multinational force that may include EU forces and those from other regions. Annan predicted the deployment would be larger than the current UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, which currently numbers around 2,000 troops.

Echoing Von Klaeden, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told ZDF television Annan’s proposal is no substitute to the disarming of Hezbollah. However, in the correct circumstances, "the European Union will not be able to completely hide away from it,’’ he said.

In New York, the French ambassador to the UN Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, who currently presides over the Security Council, said there was not enough information about the military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah to consider a mandate for troops.

Finnish presidency stands ready

The Finnish presidency of the EU has been more positive about Europe’s role in a peacekeeping force. ’The EU stands ready to take part (in such a mission) if the necessary conditions are established,’ Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, has told Kofi Annan that he received many positive replies from European leaders about their possible role in a peacekeeping force.

Israel is reacting very cautiously to the idea of a multi-national peacekeeping force but has not ruled it out when Israel’s conditions are met for the end of hostilities.

Israeli Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres told European Union foreign-policy chief Javier Solana "no international force can prevent the existing situation."