Spanish Defense Minister Pedro Morenes on Thursday said the country will reduce its military contingent in Lebanon by 20 percent.
Spain has deployed 1,100 troops out of 15,000 UN blue caskets in Lebanon, especially in the country's south-eastern areas, in the framework of the UN mission to ensure security at the border with Israel.
"This year, we will reduce our military presence by 20%", in Lebanon, Morenes said, "and in 2013 we will consider with the allies the possibility of leaving forces which is actually able to continue managing the Lebanese armed forces, but reduced in size". "I believe we accomplished the mission", he added.
The defense ministers of France and Italy have been informed about the move in advance, Morenes said.
