Posted on 08/05/2006 5:36:32 PM PDT by tessalu
BEIRUT, Aug 5, 2006 (AFP) - Lebanon rejects a draft UN Security Council resolution which aims to brings about a ceasefire with Israel, and wants the text to be amended, a government source told AFP on Saturday.
"The Lebanese government is opposed to the Franco-American draft and has sent Lebanon's representative to the UN, Acting Foreign Minister Tarek Mitri, an amended text which includes Lebanon's demands," the source said.-AFP
UN resolution calls for 'full cessation of hostilities' in Lebanon
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 5, 2006 (AFP) - The United States and France reached agreement Saturday on a draft resolution for Lebanon that calls for a "full cessation of hostilities."
The UN Security Council was to meet at 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) Saturday to allow the other 13 council members to review the resolution, amid indications that a meeting of foreign ministers might take place next week.
The text, of which AFP obtained a copy, "reiterates ... strong support for full respect for the Blue Line" marking the border between Lebanon and Israel.
It also "calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution based on the following principles and elements:
- strict respect by all parties for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Israel and Lebanon;
- delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including in the Shebaa Farms area;
- 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 Lebanese armed and security forces and of UN-mandated international forces 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;
- deployment of an international force in Lebanon ... ;
- establishment of an international embargo on the sale or
supply of arms and related material to Lebanon except as authorized by its government; and
- elimination of foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent
of its government."
In Texas, where he was vacationing, US President George W. Bush was "happy" with the draft UN resolution on the Middle East conflict, his spokesman said. "He's happy with it, he's signed off on it," Tony Snow told reporters, adding that the United States expected the UN Security Council to vote on the measure "Monday or Tuesday."
At the same time, the spokesman said "there's going to be more than one resolution," but he declined to detail what would be in that follow-up initiative.
Asked if Bush believed that there was a long way yet to ending the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Snow replied: "I don't think he has any delusions about what lies ahead."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed the proposed UN resolution to end the Middle East conflict as a "vital first step" towards ending the "tragic crisis".
Blair, who spoke on television after releasing an earlier written statement, said he hoped there would be a ceasefire within days and saw no reason why the resolution should not be adopted.
According to council procedure, a resolution could be adopted no earlier than Sunday.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's spokesman said she was expected at the United Nations early next week.
Travel plans for Rice, currently spending the weekend with Bush at his ranch, likely signal that a ministerial meeting will be held in the UN Security Council to vote through the resolution.
"I would be expecting very early this week she would be up there," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
French President Jacques Chirac's office announced earlier Saturday that France and the United States had agreed on a proposed resolution.
"An accord has been found between the French and Americans on
the draft resolution on the Middle East prepared by France to call for a complete cessation of hostilities and work towards permanent ceasefire and long-term solution," the Elysee Palace said.
The accord ends wrangling between Washington and Paris that had lasted for several days.
France had proposed a resolution calling for a "cessation of hostilities," while US officials had said they would rather use a more vague term to describe the fighting.
A second sticking point was over the organization of an international force for Lebanon and what would happen to Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
Other nations are eager to see the UN Security Council make an urgent call to end the fighting that has left more than 900 dead in Lebanon and Israel since July 12.
Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said: "We need an urgent ceasefire, that is all I can tell you."-AFP
Lebanon is assuming the status of a country without a government.
War Causes Havoc
By John E. Carey
Lebanon-- War causes havoc. I guess it always does.
Bridges are destroyed. Roads pitted and impassable. In the southern port of Tyre, Israel’s elite commandos battle Hezbollah. In south Beirut, Israeli warplanes pound away.
In New York, we are told, diplomats made a breakthrough on a potential peace accord. The U.S. and France may be nearer an agreement but here, there is no olive tree left. War has turned ugly. Much of the countryside is in ruins.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch also met with Lebanese officials in Beirut for talks focused on the make-up of an international force for peacekeeping.
"My meeting today was an important step to putting behind us forever the terrible violence witnessed in the past three weeks," Welch said after meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.
The United States and France agreed Saturday in New York on a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for a "full cessation" of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. Lebanon and Israel, both sovereign nations, would be allowed to defend themselves if attacked.
So, after more than three weeks of war, there is hope and promise here in Lebanon. But not much. Night has fallen and warfighting continues as far as we can see.
An Israeli soldier we spoke to , Ariel Alon, said, "If the Great Powers of the United States and France say there will be peace, it must be so. But I answer orders in Israel and speak only to Hezbollah with this rifle, so I will continue as before tonight."
Spoken like a diplomat.
Clueless, wiyh nothing but empty words to offer.
Israel will keep bombing.
Whoo HOOOOO! Thank you God for stupid foes!
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)
Yeah, while you are getting your ass kicked, you put forth demands?
Good move.
Yeah, while you are getting your ass kicked, you put forth demands?
Good move.
Lebanon of today is not the Lebanon of the 1950s. The Lebanon of the 1950s was a thriving, Christian nation. The Lebanon of today is a typical, Arab sinkhole.
---An Israeli soldier we spoke to , Ariel Alon, said, "If the Great Powers of the United States and France say there will be peace, it must be so. But I answer orders in Israel and speak only to Hezbollah with this rifle, so I will continue as before tonight." ---
Well said!
What a joke! The Lebonese ''government'' has been begging for a UN resolution . Now that they are about to get one, they reject it! LOL! My guess is what they want the wording to say is. .......''Israel give up and go home, let Hezbollah keep on bombing you forever or until your gone.''......Aside from that there will be no resolution..........
By George, I think she's got it! Go Israel!
Here is a very fair draft, and Lebanon rejects it. So much for the illusion that Lebanon is an innocent party unfairly victimized. They can't play the "poor Lebanon" role anymore.
I disagree.
Lebanon was a very attractive tourist hotspot last year as over one million visited the country. According to Wikipedia, market capitalization was at an all time high. Obviously the war has changed everything.
Also, does a 'typical Arab sinkhole' have near equal numbers of Christians and Sunni Muslims? Find me such a nation.
As long as each resolution they come up with and Israel accepts it, and Lebanon/Hezbollah rejects it, I don't see any problems with that. It allows Israel to keep on rooting them out.
But for arguments sake, let's say Lebanon DID accept it. Do you think Hezbollah would see any need to be bound to it? NOT! Not when Iran is pulling the strings.
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