Amman, Oct 14 (Petra) – UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Wednesday announced the launch of discussions at the Security Council on the future of the UN presence in Lebanon.

He emphasized the importance of taking Lebanon's position into consideration and reaching outcomes that support stability in both the country and the region.

Lacroix told a press conference following meetings with Lebanese leaders that the UN Secretary-General had presented the Security Council with several options for the continuation of the world body's presence after the UN Interim Force in Lebanon's (UNIFIL) mandate expires, based on consultations with Lebanese side.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said his country is committed to the continued presence of international forces in southern Lebanon for their security and humanitarian roles.

He warned that a UNIFIL withdrawal could create a security vacuum and a lack of international control, expressing hope the Security Council would respond favorably to Beirut's request to extend its mandate through next year.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam dismissed the prospect of a vacuum after the end of the UNIFIL mission in its current form.

He stressed Lebanon's need for an international force for monitoring and liaison missions, expressing the country's openness to new formulas for such a force whose mandate is based on a UN Security Council resolution.

//Petra//SS