VZCZCXYZ0002
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #3361 0932256
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 032246Z APR 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 6757
INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 5455
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 9031
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM IMMEDIATE 9467
UNCLAS STATE 043361
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC LE IS
SUBJECT: GUIDANCE: STATEMENT FOR UNSCR 1701
CONSULTATIONS, APRIL 5
1. (U) USUN is authorized to draw from the points in para 2
below during consultations on UNSC resolution 1701 currently
scheduled for April 5.
2. (U) Begin points.
-- We welcome the Secretary General's report on progress in
the implementation on UNSC resolution 1701 and express our
appreciation to the Special Representative and his staff.
-- We applaud the efforts of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed
Forces to implement key provisions of 1701, including the
arms free area south of the Litani River. The speed of this
historic deployment and UNIFIL's robust rules of engagement
set a new standard for UN peacekeeping operations. We remain
encouraged by Israeli and Lebanese cooperation with UNIFIL
and look forward to further coordination agreements with
UNIFIL through tripartite meetings.
-- We remain deeply concerned about arms transfers across
the Lebanese border that are not authorized by either the
Government of Lebanon or UNIFIL. Arms transfers to Hizballah
- as the initiator of the conflict that led to UNSC
resolution 1701 - requires particular scrutiny. As the
report notes, Hizballah's public announcement that it has
rearmed and is operating in southern Lebanon is an "open
admission of activities that constitute a direct violation of
relevant provisions of resolution 1701."
-- In this context, we strongly support the Secretary
General's intention to dispatch an independent mission to
evaluate the security of Lebanon's entire border with Syria,
to deliver its report and recommendations to strengthen the
embargo before the next UNSCR 1701 report due in June.
Additionally, we encourage this mission to evaluate the
efforts of key regional neighbors, namely Syria and Iran, to
comply with this embargo.
-- We appreciate the Secretary General's appeals for proof of
life of the two abducted Israeli soldiers; however, while we
encourage this humanitarian gesture, we urge Hizballah to
immediately and unconditionally release Eldad Regev and Ehud
Goldwasser and allow them to return to their families.
Hizballah's public refusal to immediately release the
soldiers is a rejection of this Council's clear message in
resolution 1701.
-- Recognizing the importance of a permanent solution to the
Sheba'a Farms issue, we reiterate resolution of this issue
remains contingent upon the delineation of the entire border
between the Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon. We note the
Security Council has authorized the Secretariat to review
relevant material and develop an accurate territorial
definition of the area in dispute -- the Sheba'a Farms area,
not to revisit the accuracy of the Blue Line determination in
2000 or to determine the sovereignty of Sheba,a.
Additionally, proposals on the Lebanese seven-point plan
require careful consideration of the political and security
needs of all parties.
-- We reiterate our strong support for the sovereignty,
territorial integrity, unity, and political independence of
Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders and
under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of
Lebanon and our full support for the legitimate and
democratically-elected Government of Lebanon. We remain
concerned about the continued closure of the Lebanese
Parliament which prevents the parliament from fulfilling its
legislative responsibilities and call for full respect of the
democratic institutions of the country, in conformity with
its constitution.
End points.
RICE