Austria’s Defense Minister Norbert Darabos on Tuesday issued a statement in which he said his country refuses to send troops as part of the UNIFIL forces operating in South Lebanon.

Darabos’ statement comes in response to a request by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the latter’s recent visit to Vienna.

The statement was distributed by the Department of Information of the Ministry of Defense , following a meeting of defense ministers of the European Union. Darabos said : “On the other hand Austria will double its military presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 190 to 390 soldiers”