UNIFIL Commander Vague on Frequency Inhibitors and German Ship Costs, Denies Hezbollah Protection

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, September 5 -- The commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, Claudio Graziano, on Wednesday denied that UNIFIL speaks or work with Hezbollah, but could not say how much the UN is paying for the use of Germany ships. Back on December 11, 2006 on the sidelines of the UN Security Council stakeout, Inner City Press asked Germany's ambassador if how much his country would charge UN Peacekeeping for its ships patrolling the coast of Lebanon. "We did not talk about this in the meeting," he responded. Since the question has been pending for the more than eight months since, Inner City Press asked and re-asked it. Graziano said he would provide the numbers after that briefing. Eight hours later he had not, but if and when they arrive they will be published.

            Inner City Press asked if UNIFIL now uses radio frequency inhibitors, a lack that arose after the death of peacekeepers by remotely-detonated improvised explosive device earlier this year. Click here for Inner City Press' June 27 story, in which Inner  City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson whether other of UNIFIL's troop contributing countries, including from France, Italy, Ireland, Finland, Portugal, Belgium, Ghana, India, Indonesia and Nepal, will now use frequency inhibitors.

            "All of the equipment of each contingent is national in origins," the spokesperson read out in response. "The Department of Peacekeeping Operations engages with troops contributing countries in discussions not only about the rules of engagement but also about equipment. But it is a national issue." Video here, from Minute 14:39. Graziano's answer, which emphasized the UN's commitment to safety, did not make clear if frequency inhibitors are now in use. Video here.

Ban in Lebanon, frequency inhibitors and German costs not shown

            Other correspondents focused north on the Syrian border. Graziano said that Germany may be working with Lebanon on a bilateral basis, UNIFIL is not involved.

    One hard-charging television reporter broached the topic of whether the now-arrested members of Jund al Sham, attackers of UNIFIL, in fact have affiliations with the Lebanese government "or some of its participants." Graziano said these type of connections are not within his expertise. One expected the questioner to mention the name of a sister of Hariri, and "the Army of the Lady." But no. Maybe next time.

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Clck here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (which had to be finalized without Ban's DPA having responded.)  Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund.  Video Analysis here

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