When withdrawal from Gaza is made, UN observers in Sinai are ready to protect the borders

The UN forces in charge of monitoring peace between Israel and Egypt announced yesterday that it is ready to help ensuring the protection of borders between Egypt and Gaza after Israel's withdrawal from this Palestinian sector.

The force's director general James La Roco said in Cairo following talks he had made with the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit that the "UN force is ready to provide any necessary help for protecting the borders according to the results of the Israeli- Egyptian current negotiations and on light of the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Gaza." Israel wishes that Egypt will enhance the Egyptian monitoring force on the borders with Gaza after the Israeli withdrawal which is due to start in the mid of May, 2005.

La Roco said that the US strongly supports the UN multinational force in Gaza. He added "my recent visit to Washington showed that the American support for the UN observers force in Sinai is still strong and that the new American administration is still committed to work for the Middle east peace process."

The mission of the observers force in Sinai which is not under the control of the UN works for monitoring the implementation of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, according to Camp David Agreement signed in 1979. This force deploys monitoring stations to make sure the two sides honor the treaty.