Mr President,
I thank Mr. Lacroix and General Gauchat for their presentations.
The Middle East has experienced an episode of unprecedented tensions since October 2023. In this context, France is committed to putting an end to this cycle of violence, in conjunction with its partners.
In Lebanon, along the blue line, France worked with the United States to reach the cessation of hostilities agreement of November 26, 2024, setting an important milestone towards the full implementation of resolution 1701. The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, is today in Beirut, meeting President Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Salam, to show them France's support in this period crucial. The situation remains fragile, but the reduction in hostilities has been very significant. Israeli forces have begun their withdrawal, in parallel with the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces. It is necessary that the deadlines set for these operations, i.e. 60 days, be respected. Ultimately, the objective remains the full implementation of resolution 1701.
In Gaza, France has continued to work for the release of hostages and the achievement of a ceasefire. We welcome the announcement of an agreement between Israel and Hamas, made possible thanks to the efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt. We must immediately adopt a medium and long-term approach, based on the two-state solution, the only way to enable the building of a state for the Palestinians and guarantee the security of the Israelis. In June 2025, France will co-chair with Saudi Arabia an international conference in New York to establish the two-state solution.
Finally, in Syria, the fall of the Assad regime offers many hopes. France calls on the de facto authorities to guarantee that the transition process will be representative of all components of Syrian society and organized in the spirit of the main principles established by resolution 2254. In this context, it is important that Syria and Israel respects the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which implies for Israel to withdraw from the separation zone provided for by this agreement and to cease its operations on Syrian territory.
In recent months, the three United Nations peacekeeping operations, UNIFIL, UNDOF and UNTSO, have played a key role in stopping the cycle of violence and easing tensions. France salutes the courage and professionalism of their personnel. It pays tribute to troop-contributing countries and peacekeepers engaged on the ground, many of whom have been injured since October 2023.
-France is taking its full part in this, deploying nearly 700 French soldiers within UNIFIL. We have just strengthened its engineering capabilities, so that it can best adapt its activities.
It is crucial that these three operations are able to implement their mandates without hindrance and we therefore condemn all attacks targeting United Nations missions, their personnel and their premises, as well as any attempt to call into question their action.
Finally, it is important that these missions can adapt their activities if the situation changes.
Following the cessation of hostilities agreement obtained in Lebanon, and yesterday's adoption of the presidential declaration supporting the contribution of the United Nations to the implementation of the agreement, we encourage the latter to reflect on adaptations necessary for the posture of UNIFIL to take into account this new situation, within the framework of its mandate and in order to facilitate the full implementation of resolution 1701.
Thank you.
