The Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Major General Alberto Asarta Cuevas chaired on Thursday a regular tripartite meeting with senior officials from the Lebanese army and the Israel Defense Forces at the U.N. Position at Ras al-Naqoura crossing, said UNIFIL in a statement.

During the meeting all the issues relevant to the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 were discussed, including the situation along the Line of Withdrawal (Blue Line), the ongoing visible marking of the Blue Line, violations and incidents as well as the issue of withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Ghajar, it added.

Visiting Belgian Defense Minister Pieter De Crem stressed on Thursday his country’s support for Lebanon’s efforts to maintain security and develop the demining program.

He said after holding talks with his Lebanese counterpart Fayez Ghosn that Belgium is keen on Lebanon’s stability.

Italian ambassador to Lebanon Giuseppe Morabito stressed on Thursday that Lebanon should continue to respect its international commitments and cooperation with the international community.

“The Lebanese people and political components are wise. They understand that Lebanon has no interest in isolating itself from the international community,” Morabito said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper.

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon ad interim Robert Watkins revealed on Tuesday that preparations were underway for the next report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, which is due to be sent to the Security Council by the end of February.

He said after holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri: “I praised the role the speaker and other Lebanese officials have played during the past months to safeguard Lebanon’s stability and security during a time of dramatic regional developments, which is also very important for the smooth implementation of resolution 1701.”

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon appointed Italian Maj. Gen. Paolo Sera as the commander of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon to succeed Spain’s Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta.

“Asarta will relinquish his post on 28 January,” spokesperson for the Secretary-General Martin Nesirky said on Monday.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy stressed on Friday that his country will maintain its support for Lebanon, noting that French troops have been participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for some 30 years.

He therefore warned that anyone who attacks a single French soldier will have to suffer the consequences of their action.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Saturday that the United Nations and international community’s support for Lebanon represent a central step in establishing peace and stability in the country.

He during a dinner thrown in visiting U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon’s honor: “We need the international community’s support in forcing Israel to halt its violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty and implement international resolutions.”

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in the southern coastal town of Naqoura aboard a helicopter on Saturday for talks with the leadership of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Ban was greeted by UNIFIL Force Commander Major-General Alberto Asarta Cuevas and undertook a brief tour by helicopter over the Blue Line.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon's fourth visit to Lebanon, which starts on Friday, is expected to focus on the controversial Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and the deadly crisis in n Syria.

A government source told Agence France Presse that Ban was expected to address Lebanon's duties to the STL that has charged four Hizbullah operatives in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon was on Tuesday conducting patrols along the border with Israel after the Jewish state launched huge military exercises in the occupied Shebaa Farms area and the Golan Heights, media reports said.

They said citizens in southern Lebanon heard sounds of huge explosions coming from the Farms zone.