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Cablegate: Lebanon: Security Council Welcomes Doha Agreement

Published: Fri 23 May 2008 04:09 PM
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O 231609Z MAY 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4316
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000459
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TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES DOHA AGREEMENT
1. (SBU) The UN Security Council adopted a Presidential
Statement (PRST) on May 22 welcoming the agreement between
Lebanese leaders reached in Doha, Qatar one day earlier. The
text of the PRST is contained in paragraph 2. Although USUN
pushed hard for language calling for full implementation of
the Doha agreement in conformity with UNSC resolutions 1559,
1680, and 1701, Russia, China, Libya, and South Africa argued
that a "selective" reference to "controversial" resolutions
would undermine the Doha process, and was therefore
unnecessary. (They were supported in this view by the Qatari
PermRep.) USUN noted that UN member states are bound by the
Charter to support all resolutions, whether or not they are
controversial, and that 1559, 1680, and 1701 all address the
same issues as Doha -- the restoration of Lebanon's political
independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity.
Enumerating them in this PRST is no different than specifying
resolutions 242, 338, and 1515 in UNSC statements on the
Israeli-Palestinian issue. Russia and the others refused to
relent, and with the French and British, who initially
supported the U.S. position, ready to concede the point, the
PRST was adopted with a reference to "all relevant
resolutions" on Lebanon. The British PermRep, however,
agreed to Amb Wolff's suggestion that he mention the three
resolutions to the press when briefing them on the PRST.
2. Begin text of the Presidential Statement (PRST):
The Security Council congratulates the leaders and people of
Lebanon and welcomes and strongly supports the agreement
reached in Doha on May 21 under the auspices of the Arab
League, which constitutes an essential step towards the
resolution of the current crisis, the return to the normal
functioning of Lebanese democratic institutions, and the
complete restoration of Lebanon's unity and stability.
It commends the efforts of the Arab League, in particular of
the committee of Foreign Ministers, under the leadership of
the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa
Al-Thani, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh
Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, and Secretary-General
Amr Moussa, in helping Lebanese leaders reach an agreement.
It welcomes the agreement to elect a President of the
Republic, to establish a national unity cabinet and to
address Lebanon's electoral law, in accordance with the Arab
League initiative, as well as the decision to continue the
national dialogue on ways to reinforce the authority of the
state over all its territory, in such a way to guarantee the
sovereignty and the safety of the state and the people of
Lebanon. It welcomes the agreement to ban the use of weapons
and violence as a means to settle disputes, irrespective of
their nature and under any circumstances.
It calls for the implementation of this agreement in its
entirety, in accordance with the Arab League initiative, and
in conformity with the Taef Agreement and all relevant UN
Security Council resolutions and statements of its President
on the situation in Lebanon.
The Security Council reaffirms its strong support for the
territorial integrity, sovereignty, unity, and political
independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized
borders and under the sole and exclusive authority of the
Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory.
Khalilzad
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