VZCZCXYZ0012
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #4373 1502158
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 302150Z MAY 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 7457
INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 6006
UNCLAS STATE 074373
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC LE PTER
SUBJECT: VOTING INSTRUCTIONS: SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON
1. (U) This is an action request. USUN is instructed to
vote for and co-sponsor the resolution on the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon. USUN may draw from the explanation
of vote (EOV) in para 2 below. End action request.
2. (U) Begin EOV text.
I would now like to make a few remarks in my national
capacity.
We welcome the adoption of resolution xxxx on the
establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
By adopting this resolution, the Council has demonstrated
its commitment to the Lebanese people to ensure that there
shall be no impunity for political assassinations or terrorism.
Those who killed Rafiq Hariri and so many others will be
brought to justice and held responsible for their crimes.
Establishing the tribunal will also serve to deter future
political assassinations. Those who might be tempted to
commit similar crimes will know there will be consequences
for perpetuating Lebanon's troubled history of political
violence and intimidation.
It was necessary and right for the Council to act now.
Those who oppose justice for the murderers and terrorists
bent on destabilizing Lebanon have delayed the establishment
of the tribunal long enough. The Council approved the tribunal
agreement and statute on November 21, 2006. Since that time,
the legitimate government and the democratically-elected
parliamentary majority have tried every possible means to convince
the Speaker of Parliament to fulfill his constitutional
responsibility to convene parliament so that final action on
the tribunal could be taken. But to no avail.
Several influential parties visited Lebanon in an effort
to find a framework in which parliament could be
convened. These include the Arab League, UN Legal Counsel
Nicolas Michel, and the Secretary-General himself. After
five months of tireless efforts to reach a solution to the
impasse facing his country, Prime Minister Siniora sent
the Secretary-General a letter on May 14 asking that the
matter be put before the Security Council to take a
binding" decision to establish the Special Tribunal. The
Secretary-General endorsed the Prime Minister's request
SIPDIS
one day later after concluding that all diplomatic efforts
had been exhausted.
No one can say that the Lebanese Government, the
Secretary-General, or the Security Council failed to
SIPDIS
pursue every possible option short of Council action to
establish the tribunal. But those opposed to the tribunal
made sure there were no such options available.
We have heard many voices warn of the risks to peace and
stability in Lebanon. Many already see in the violence of
recent months an effort to intimidate the Lebanese majority
from pursuing justice for Hariri and others victims of political
assassination. In the days ahead, we urge all parties to act
responsibly and abide by their obligations to support Lebanon's
sovereignty and political independence. Efforts to destabilize
Lebanon will not be tolerated.
The time has come for the international community to support the
efforts of Lebanon's majority to seek justice on behalf of its
martyred citizens. For our part, we concluded that failure to
support Lebanon's democratic majority was unacceptable. There car
be no peace and stability without justice.
In conclusion, the United States reaffirms our support for
Lebanon. With the passage of this resolution, we are
confident that the Security Council will live up to its
commitment to support Lebanon in its pursuit of justice.
End EOV text.
RICE