the mandate of UNIFIL should once again be extended. I recommend this ·course of action to the Security Council, bearing in mind the request of the Govern­ ment of Lebanon and the views of others concerned. In this connection, I should mention that the Govern­ ment of Israel has expressed the view that UNIFIL should not at the present time be extended for more than two or three months. 18 24. I wish, once again, to express the earnest hope that if the Council decides to extend the mandate of UNIFIL, all concerned will give their complete co­ operation to the Force in order to enable it fully to carry out the tasks entrusted to 'it by the Security Council. 25. In recommending a further extension of UNIFIL, I must draw the Council's attention to the financial difficulties faced by the Force. There is, as of January 1983, an accumulated shortfall in the UNIFIL Special Account of some $152 million. As a result, the Organization is falling far behind in the reimbursement of the troop-contributing countries, placing an unfair and increasingly heavy burden on them. I am ex­ tremely concerned about this state of affairs and, therefore, appeal to Member States to pay their as­ sessments. I would like also to appeal to Member States to consider making available, as a practical measure, voluntary contributions to the UNIFIL Sus­ pense Account, to be used for the reimbursement of Governments contributing troops, equipment and supplies to UNIFIL. 26. In concluding this report, I wish to express, once again, my deep appreciation to the troop­ contributing countries for their steadfast support to the Force during the present critical period. I also wish to pay tribute to the Commander of UNIFIL, Lieutenant-General William Callaghan, and his staff, civilian and military, and to the officers and men of 