The UN Security Council issued a presidential statement yesterday, saying it "is deeply shocked and distressed" by Israeli attack on a UN observer post in southern Lebanon, which killed four UN military observers.

 

"The Security Council calls on the Israeli government to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into this incident taking into account any relevant material from the UN authorities, and make the results public as soon as possible," said the statement.

 

Deeply concerned about the safety and security of UN personnel, the Security Council stresses that Israel and all concerned parties must fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law related to the protection of UN and its associated personnel and ensure that UN personnel are not the object of attack, the statement added.

 

The statement expressed the Security Council's deep concern for Lebanese and Israeli civilian casualties and sufferings, the destruction of civilian infrastructures and the rising number of internally displaced people in Lebanon.

 

The Security Council was scheduled to issue the statement Wednesday, but had to extend consultations over the wording of the final text. Representatives from Austria, Canada and Finland were invited to attend today's session.

 

After the Security Council adopted the statement, Wang Guangya, China's ambassador to the UN, told reporters that the text has been watered down, and what the council members agreed is the minimum of what the council can do under the circumstances, but he said he was pleased the council adopted the statement.

 

"I'm glad that the Security Council has adopted this presidential statement. I believe that by adopting this statement, the Security Council is not only doing justice to the victims and their families, but also, and more important, doing justice to this organization and to tens of thousands of women and men who are working for this organization all over the world," he said.

 

He stressed that during consultations, almost all council members, with strong voice, expressed condemnation of what had happened. The condemnation is there, he noted.

 

"I think that if we get stuck on this particular issue for political considerations then definitely I think that people will feel frustrated and definitely I think it will affect smooth cooperation on other important issues," Wang said.

 

He said he did not expect consultation on such an important issue where members have much common ground would take so long. The frustration is there, which will affect the working relations in the council somewhat and somewhere, he said.

 

Briefing the Security Council on Israeli attack that killed four UN observers Wednesday, Jane Lute, assistant UN secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, said Israel pursued attacks on the UN post despite high-level protests, and there have been more attacks close to UN positions Wednesday.

 

The UN yesterday flew its flags at half mast in memory of the slain observers.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2006)