No. 74/06
August 24, 2006

STATEMENT BY EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO ON LEBANON

"As European Union Foreign Ministers gather in Brussels on Friday, it is important to recall that the EU has been at the forefront of diplomatic efforts to bring an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and is playing a key role in support of the rapid implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

"The EU fully supports these efforts and has been closely involved to relieve those suffering the consequences of the hostilities as the main donor in the region. We have already committed and pledged more than €100 million in humanitarian and recovery aid to the Lebanese population and have been active helping the control and the cleaning up of the environmental damage caused by the conflict. Today we are announcing that we are working on putting together a substantial assistance package to boost the recovery and to reinforce the Lebanese reform process.

"I am confident that Europe will provide the necessary support to expand the UNIFIL force to help the government of Lebanon extend its control over all Lebanese territory. It is time for the EU to fulfill its role as the global player that our citizens expect. The European Commission, alongside Member States, will remain actively committed to this goal."

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