Albright Statement on Lebanon
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release May 22, 2000
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT ON LEBANON WASHINGTON, DC MAY 22, 2000
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I have been in contact throughout the day to discuss developments in Lebanon with UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan, Prime Minister Barak of Israel, President Lahoud of Lebanon, President Mubarak of Egypt, Foreign
Minister Sharaa of Syria and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
The UN Security Council has received the report of the Secretary General on the implementation of Security Council
resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978), and will be acting on it.
We urge all sides to work with the Secretary General to ensure that the implementation of Security Council resolutions
425 and 426 is carried out in a way that enhances stability in the region, minimizes civilian casualties and supports
our broader efforts to encourage comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace.
We call upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any act of violence. It is our emphatic view
that there can be no justification for initiating acts of violence at a time when Israel is in the process of
implementing resolution 425. Lebanon also has a responsibility to do its part to implement resolution 425, which calls
for the return of its effective authority in the area. Ending the cycle of confrontation and violence in south Lebanon
is in the shared interests of all the parties.
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