RIO GROUP STATEMENT ON HOSTILITIES IN LEBANON

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000879 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV IS LE GY SUBJECT: RIO GROUP STATEMENT ON HOSTILITIES IN LEBANON ¶1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, current chair of the Rio Group, issued the following statement on behalf of the Rio Group on August 31. BEGIN TEXT: RIO GROUP STATEMENT ON A FULL CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN LEBANON The Members of the Permanent Mechanism of Consultation and Political Coordination - the Rio Group - welcome the unanimous adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 1701 (2006) which calls for a full cessation of hostilities by Israel and Hezbollah and the coming into effect of the agreement as called for by the Resolution A/HRC/S-2/L.1, adopted by the Human Rights Council, condemning the violation of human Rights against the Lebanese civilian population. The cessation of hostilities which brought an end to the senseless loss of life must be respected strictly by the parties in order to allow for the urgent implementation of measures to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population, especially children. The Rio Group therefore calls upon all parties to faithfully comply with the mandate of Security Council Resolution 1701 and to desist from committing actions that jeopardize the fledgling truce. The Rio Group urges the parties to do their utmost to ensure that this cessation of hostilities is transformed into a durable ceasefire allowing for the peaceful pursuit of political solution to the issues. The Rio Group supports the full exercise of sovereignty by the Government of Lebanon within the territory of Lebanon. The strengthened and expanded United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) must be urgently and fully deployed to fulfill its renewed mandate. The Rio Group therefore calls upon countries in a position to do so to help reinforce UNIFIL and urges the international community to be generous in their humanitarian support and in contributions to assist in the process of rebuilding Lebanon. The Rio Group is convinced that peace and stability ultimately rest on the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in all it aspects. Therefore, the international community should strengthen the efforts to create conditions for the resumption of the peace process in the region on all tracts. The Rio Group stands ready to support all efforts aimed at the promotion of a real and lasting solution of this situation in keeping with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Pro Tempore Secretariat Rio Group Georgetown, Guyana August 31, 2006 END TEXT ROBINSON