A UN panel
said the Lebanese Army has failed to take adequate measures to protect its
eastern and northern borders, Middle East Newsline reported.
The Lebanese government has agreed with the UN report. On Wednesday,
Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said Syria was sending weapons to two camps controlled by Fateh Al
Intifada and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General
Command.
"Border security at the Syrian border is a new exercise for all the
security agencies, based on the recent history of Lebanon," the report said.
The U.S.-supported Lebanese Army also remains unable to control
Palestinian refugee camps, a key recipient of the smuggled weapons. The
report, drafted under Security Council Resolution 1701, said Palestinian and
other militias in Lebanon and Syria were involved in arms smuggling.
Lebanon and Syria have not been cooperating to stop weapons smuggling.
The UN panel, which included nationals from Algeria, said the Lebanese Army
was not in contact with its Syrian counterpart on any level.
"There is no cooperation between the Lebanese agencies on the
operational level and their Syrian counterparts," the report said.
The UN has urged the Siniora government to reform
the Lebanese Army and security forces. The report said the UN and other
international bodies must help Beirut integrate Lebanese
military and police units along the border and acquire intelligence
and rapid intervention systems and platforms.
"Security agencies demonstrate a good level of understanding of the
nature of their duties in relation to the provision of Resolution 1701," the
report said. "Despite such measures, the current border control strategy,
the nature of the terrain, the current state of equipment available and
training, as well as the processes and infrastructures at the official
border crossing points makes it still possible for arms to be smuggled
undetected through the border line."
"In recent weeks these camps have been reinforced with munitions, arms
and fighters," Siniora said. "Everyone knows that these groups are supported
and armed by Syria. This is something I will talk to the Arab League about."