Following the attack on the UN base at Qana on 18 April 1996, the UN Secretary General instructed his military adviser, Major-General Frank van Kappen, to investigate and report on the circumstances of the attack. Following intensive investigations and discussions with the parties involved, General van Kappen completed his report on 7 May 1996. The Secretary General presented the report to the Security Council, which is still considering the matter.
The Government welcomed the report as a thorough, professional and objective assessment of the circumstances surrounding the attack. We made clear our strong view that all parties in conflicts should fully respect the mandate of UN operations and the inviolability of UN installations, to ensure that attacks such as that at Qana can never happen again.
The safety of civilians and of the UNIFIL contigent in Lebanon remains a priority of the Government. We made our grave concerns on this issue clear to the Israeli authorities during the recent conflict, both before and after the attack on Qana, and we will continue to stress the importance we attach to it in our contacts with all parties in the region.
The best means available for securing peace in Lebanon is support for the ceasefire agreement of 26 April 1996 and a commitment to negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in the Middle East peace process. The EU's policy in this regard was reaffirmed in the declaration issued by the Florence European Council on 22 June 1996.