Friday, 11 August, 2006
Mr. President,
For the past month the world has borne witness to another tragic
chapter in the history of the Middle East; an unbearable addition to
the pain of this long-suffering region.
The images of helpless children and mothers, wounded, sick and
despondent victims on either side of the conflict, untold destruction
and unimaginable pain has haunted all of us. It has shown, once more,
how much we have failed, as an international community, the hopes and
dreams and aspirations of all these people.
Mr. President,
 Greece has from the very first moment of the outbreak of the current crisis called for an immediate ceasefire.
War is not and cannot be the answer to anything. Violence never
solved any problem. It only serves to breed more violence and to create
a new generation full of hatred, void of hope and keen on revenge. A
nurturing field for extremism and terrorism.
The Middle East has been suffering from this never ending circle of
vicious wars and unstable peace, broken promises and lost lives,
unspeakable tragedy, not for years but for decades now.
History has proven time and again that neither victories in the
battlefields nor blind violence against innocent civilians or suicide
bombings or Katyusha rockets ever solved or will ever solve the
problems of the Middle East or any other region for that matter. These
are issues which need political solutions brought up through diplomatic
means. In a spirit of compromise, mutual respect and acceptance.
Mr. President,
The resolution we adopted here today is trying to do precisely that.
It offers the basis for a political solution to this long-lasting – and
admittedly extremely difficult and complex - problem. It also offers
the framework of a political process with concrete goals and specific
benchmarks and timeframes.
Full respect of the sovereignty, political independence and
territorial integrity of Lebanon is the first and foremost of these
benchmarks. Security Council Resolutions 425, 1599 and 1680 must be
fully implemented. After all, it is a matter of principle that all
Security Council resolutions be fully respected and properly
implemented.
In the last two years, the international community has done an
exceptional work in ridding Lebanon of any foreign presence. It is
therefore not conceivable that it could accept foreign occupation on
any part of Lebanese national territory. Occupation by any foreign
force anywhere in the world is not admissible in any way or under any
pretext.
It is imperative for the Lebanese Government to take effective and
immediate control of the Lebanese territory in its entirety through the
withdrawal of the Israeli military forces and the deployment of the
Lebanese army. It is also imperative to proceed, the soonest possible,
with the delineation of the international borders of Lebanon including
the Shebaa farms. The Secretary-General while presenting his proposals,
should take into consideration the seven points of the Siniora Plan.
At the same time, Israeli legitimate security concerns are well
understood and need to be properly addressed. We continue though to
believe that, while preserving the right of self-defence, Israel must
respect its
obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
Mr. President,
We see this resolution as a first but very important step towards a
lasting and sustainable peace. We are fully aware that a lot remains to
be done. We need to make sure that this resolution will be fully
implemented.
The bloodshed has to stop; and it has to stop now. The bombings have
to stop; and they have to stop now. The suffering of the civilians has
to stop; and it has to stop now.
Greece responded immediately to the enormous humanitarian effort
under way in Lebanon. But the ongoing hostilities hamper our ability to
reach those most in need and alleviate their pain.
Now that the end of hostilities is hopefully in sight, we stand
ready, together with the rest of the international community, and
especially the countries of the region, to help in the enormous effort
for the reconstruction of a shattered country, the immediate return of
refugees back to their homes and –hopefully- the dawn of a new day over
both Lebanon and Israel.
It is in this respect that this resolution deserves our support and
–even more important- deserves our commitment to work very hard in the
coming days on the crucial steps which need to follow if we want our
efforts to bring tangible results and not end in one more disappointing
failure.
It is in this spirit that we call upon the parties to set aside
their fears and disappointments and, difficult as it might be, make the
necessary commitment and effort to overcome the current crisis and
build a better future for their people.
Mr. President,
At this particularly critical juncture in the history of the Middle
East, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture and allow ourselves
to forget the suffering and the plight of the Palestinian people in the
West Bank and Gaza. The question of Palestine, central in the whole
Middle East conflict, should be addressed with the utmost urgency. As
long as the Palestinian issue remains unresolved, it is clear that
there will be no peace in the region.
We must strive to create, the soonest possible, the necessary
conditions for the genuine and in earnest re-launching of a peace
process for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace
in the Middle East, based on all relevant Security Council resolutions,
including resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515, as well as on the Madrid
terms of reference and the principle of land for peace.
Thank you, Mr. President.
....................................................................................................
UN Lebanon resolution
The
text of Resolution 1701, passed unanimously by the UN Security Council
(Αugust. 11, 2006).
The Security Council,
Recalling all its previous resolutions on
Lebanon, in particular resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 520 (1982),
1559 (2004), 1655 (2006), 1680 (2006) and 1697 (2006), as well as the
statements of its president on the situation in Lebanon, in particular
the statements of 18 June, 2000, of 19 October, 2004, of 4 May 2005, of
23 January 2006 and of 30 July 2006;
Expressing its utmost concern at the continuing
escalation of hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since Hezbollah's
attack on Israel on 12 July 2006, which has already caused hundreds of
deaths and injuries on both sides, extensive damage to civilian
infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced
persons;
Emphasising the need for an end of violence, but
at the same time emphasising the need to address urgently the causes
that have given rise to the current crisis, including by the
unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers;
Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of
prisoners and encouraging the efforts aimed at urgently settling the
issue of the Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel;
Welcoming the efforts of the Lebanese prime
minister and the commitment of the government of Lebanon, in its
seven-point plan, to extend its authority over its territory, through
its own legitimate armed forces, such that there will be no weapons
without the consent of the government of Lebanon and no authority other
than that of the government of Lebanon, welcoming also its commitment
to a UN force that is supplemented and enhanced in numbers, equipment,
mandate and scope of operation, and bearing in mind its request in this
plan for an immediate withdrawal of the Israeli forces from southern
Lebanon;
Determined to act for this withdrawal to happen at the earliest;
Taking due note of the proposals made in the seven-point plan regarding the Shebaa farms area;
Welcoming the unanimous decision by the
government of Lebanon on 7 August 2006 to deploy a Lebanese armed force
of 15,000 troops in south Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws behind
the Blue Line and to request the assistance of additional forces from
Unifil as needed, to facilitate the entry of the Lebanese armed forces
into the region and to restate its intention to strengthen the Lebanese
armed forces with material as needed to enable it to perform its
duties;
Aware of its responsibilities to help secure a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict;
Determining that the situation in Lebanon constitutes a threat to international peace and security;
1. Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in
particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and
the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military
operations;
2. Upon full cessation of hostilities, calls upon the
government of Lebanon and Unifil as authorised by paragraph 11 to
deploy their forces together throughout the South and calls upon the
government of Israel, as that deployment begins, to withdraw all of
its forces from southern Lebanon in parallel;
3. Emphasises the importance of the extension of the control
of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in
accordance with the provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and
resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant provisions of the Taif
Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty, so that there will
be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon and
no authority other than that of the government of Lebanon;
4. Reiterates its strong support for full respect for the
Blue Line;
5. Also reiterates its strong support, as recalled in all its
previous relevant resolutions, for the territorial integrity,
sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its
internationally recognized borders, as contemplated by the
Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of 23 March 1949;
6. Calls on the international community to take immediate
steps to extend its financial and humanitarian assistance to the
Lebanese people, including through facilitating the safe return of
displaced persons and, under the authority of the government of
Lebanon, reopening airports and harbours, consistent with paragraphs
14 and 15, and calls on it also to consider further assistance in
the future to contribute to the reconstruction and development of
Lebanon;
7. Affirms that all parties are responsible for ensuring that no action is taken contrary to paragraph 1 that might adversely
affect the search for a long-term solution, humanitarian access to
civilian populations, including safe passage for humanitarian
convoys, or the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons, and
calls on all parties to comply with this responsibility and to
cooperate with the Security Council;
8. Calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent
ceasefire and a long-term solution based on the following principles
and elements:
- Full respect for the Blue Line by both parties;
- security arrangements to prevent the resumption of
hostilities, including the establishment between the Blue Line and
the Litani river of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and
weapons other than those of the government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL
as authorised in paragraph 11, deployed in this area;
- Full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif
Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), that
require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that,
pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision of July 27, 2006, there
will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the
Lebanese state;
- No foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its
government;
- No sales or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon
except as authorized by its government;
- Provision to the United Nations of all remaining maps of land
mines in Lebanon in Israel's possession;
9. Invites the secretary general to support efforts to secure
as soon as possible agreements in principle from the government of
Lebanon and the government of Israel to the principles and elements
for a long-term solution as set forth in paragraph 8, and expresses
its intention to be actively involved;
10. Requests the secretary general to develop, in liaison
with relevant international actors and the concerned parties,
proposals to implement the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords,
and resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), including disarmament,
and for delineation of the international borders of Lebanon,
especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain,
including by dealing with the Shebaa farms area, and to present to
the Security Council those proposals within 30 days;
11. Decides, in order to supplement and enhance the force in
numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operations, to authorize an
increase in the force strength of Unifil to a maximum of 15,000
troops, and that the force shall, in addition to carrying out its
mandate under resolutions 425 and 426 (1978):
-
a. Monitor the cessation of hostilities;
-
b. Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they
deploy throughout the South, including along the Blue Line, as
Israel withdraws its armed forces from Lebanon as provided in
paragraph 2;
-
c. Coordinate its activities related to paragraph 11 (b) with
the government of Lebanon and the government of Israel;
-
d. Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to
civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced
persons;
-
e. Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the
establishment of the area as referred to in paragraph 8;
-
f. Assist the government of Lebanon, at its request, to
implement paragraph 14;
12. Acting in support of a request from the government of
Lebanon to deploy an international force to assist it to exercise
its authority throughout the territory, authorizes Unifil to take
all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it
deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations
is not utilised for hostile activities of any kind, to resist
attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties
under the mandate of the Security Council, and to protect United
Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure
the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel,
humanitarian workers, and, without prejudice to the responsibility
of the government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent
threat of physical violence;
13. Requests the secretary general urgently to put in place
measures to ensure Unifil is able to carry out the functions
envisaged in this resolution, urges member states to consider making
appropriate contributions to Unifil and to respond positively to
requests for assistance from the Force, and expresses its strong
appreciation to those who have contributed to Unifil in the past;
14. Calls upon the government of Lebanon to secure its
borders and other entry points to prevent the entry in Lebanon
without its consent of arms or related materiel and requests Unifil
as authorised in paragraph 11 to assist the government of Lebanon at
its request;
15. Decides further that all states shall take the necessary
measures to prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or
using their flag vessels or aircraft;
-
a. the sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of
arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and
ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment,
and spare parts for the aforementioned, whether or not originating
in their territories, and;
-
b. the provision to any entity or individual in Lebanon of any
technical training or assistance related to the provision,
manufacture, maintenance or use of the items listed in subparagraph
(a) above, except that these prohibitions shall not apply to arms,
related material, training or assistance authorised by the
government of Lebanon or by Unifil as authorised in paragraph 11;
16. Decides to extend the mandate of Unifil until 31 August
2007, and expresses its intention to consider in a later resolution
further enhancements to the mandate and other steps to contribute to
the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term
solution;
17. Requests the secretary general to report to the Council
within one week on the implementation of this resolution and
subsequently on a regular basis;
18. Stresses the importance of, and the need to achieve, a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on
all its relevant resolutions including its resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973;
19. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
|
