INSTRUCTIONS: CO-SPONSORING UNSCR 1701 PRST

UNCLAS STATE 197205

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SENSITIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC IS LE
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTIONS: CO-SPONSORING UNSCR 1701 PRST


1. (U) USUN is authorized to join France and the UK in
sponsoring the draft PRST in para 2 below, reacting to the
Secretary General's letter on UNSC resolution 1701

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implementation. USUN should report outcome of negotiations
to Department and seek Department guidance regarding the
final draft.


2. (U) Begin text.

The Security Council recalls all its previous resolutions on
Lebanon, in particular resolutions 1701 (2006),425 and 426
(1978),520 (1982),1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006),as well as
the statements of its president on the situation in Lebanon,
in particular the statements of 30 October 2006
(x/PRST/2006/43) and of 21 November 2006 (x/PRST/2006/46).

The Security Council reiterates its full support for the
legitimate and democratically-elected Government of Lebanon
and condemns any effort to destabilize Lebanon. It 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.
The Council reiterates its call upon all parties concerned to
cooperate fully and urgently with the Security Council for
the full implementation of all relevant resolutions
concerning the restoration of the territorial integrity, full
sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon.

The Security Council welcomes the letter of the Secretary
General to the President of the Council of 1 December 2006
(x/2006/933),as well as his previous reports of 18 August
2006 (x/2006/670) and of 12 September 2006 (x/2006/730) on
the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006).

The Security Council calls for the full implementation of
resolution 1701 (2006) and urges all concerned parties to
cooperate fully with the Security Council and the
Secretary-General to achieve this goal.

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The Security Council welcomes the Secretary General,s
indication of the continuing commitment of the Government of
Lebanon and the Government of Israel to all aspects of the
implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). It urges both
governments to strictly abide by their commitment and to
pursue their efforts to achieve a permanent cease-fire and a
long-term solution as envisioned in the resolution.

The Security Council notes that important progress has been
made towards the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006),in
particular through the cessation of hostilities, the imminent
withdrawal of all the Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon
and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces in the south
of the country for the first time in three decades, together
with the deployment so far of more than 10,000 troops from
the reinforced UNIFIL.

The Security Council welcomes the maintenance of the
cessation of hostilities since 14 August 2006, supports the
work done by UNIFIL, together with the parties, to finalise
the Israeli withdrawal from the remaining area inside Lebanon
and set up temporary security arrangements for the part of
the village of Ghajar inside Lebanese territory, welcomes the
decision of the Israeli Cabinet in this regard, and looks
forward to its early implementation.

The Security Council commends the Lebanese government for
extending its authority throughout its territory,
particularly in the South, and encourages it to continue its
efforts in this regard, including through the reinforcement
of its capacities along its borders and the exercise of its
monopoly of the use of force all over its territory in
accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions.

The Security Council reiterates its full support to UNIFIL
and looks forward to the completion of its deployment early
next year as contemplated by the Secretary General in his
Letter. It expresses its strong appreciation to Member states
who have contributed to UNIFIL in the past and since the
adoption of resolution 1701 (2006) and notes with
appreciation the establishment of the Strategic Military Cell
dedicated to UNIFIL at UN Headquarters
The Security Council, while expressing deep concern at the
continuing Israeli violations of Lebanese air space, appeals
to all parties concerned to respect the cessation of
hostilities and the Blue Line in its entirety, to refrain
from any act of provocation and to abide scrupulously by
their obligation to respect the safety of the UNIFIL and
other United Nations personnel, including by avoiding any
course of action which endangers United Nations personnel and
by ensuring UNIFIL is accorded full freedom of movement
throughout its area of operation.

The Security Council, in this context, reiterating its deep
concern at reports of illegal movements of arms into Lebanon,
reaffirms that such movements are a breach of the embargo
established in paragraph 15 of resolution 1701 (2006),urges
all member states, in particular in the region, to take all
necessary measures to fully abide by the arms embargo and
expresses its intention to consider further steps to achieve
the goals set out in this paragraph.
It welcomes in that regard the initial steps taken by the
Government of Lebanon, notably the deployment of 8000 troops
along the border, to prevent movements of arms in conformity
with relevant resolutions, and reiterates its call upon the
Government of Syria to take similar measures to reinforce
controls at the border.

The Security Council, mindful of the conclusions of the team
of border police experts dispatched by the Secretary General
at the request of the Government of Lebanon, invites the
Secretary General to pursue further technical and independent

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assessment of the situation along the border and to report
back to the Council on further findings and recommendations
in this regard.

The Council invites further Member states, as recommended by
the Secretary General, to consider possible bilateral
assistance to the Government of Lebanon to enhance its border
security capacities.

The Security Council welcomes the concrete steps taken by the
Government of Lebanon, with the assistance of UNIFIL, to
establish between the Blue Line and the Litani river an area
free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than
those of the Government of Lebanon and of UNIFIL and calls
upon the Government of Lebanon to strengthen its efforts to
this end. The Council also reiterates its call for disbanding
and disarmament of all militias and armed groups in Lebanon.

The Security Council expresses deepest concern at the
presence in very high numbers of unexploded ordnance in South
Lebanon, including cluster munitions. It deplores the death
and injury of dozens of civilians, as well as of several
de-miners, caused by those munitions since the cessation of
hostilities. It welcomes the continued contribution of UNIFIL
to operational mine clearance, encourages further assistance
in mine action by the United Nations to the Government of
Lebanon in support of both the continued development of its
national mine action capacity and clearance of the remaining
mine / unexploded ordnances threat in the South, commends
donor countries for supporting these efforts through
financial and in kind contributions and encourages further
international contributions and practical cooperation.

The Security Council reaffirms the urgent need for the
unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers.

The Security Council further encourages efforts aimed at
urgently settling the issue of the Lebanese prisoners
detained in Israel.

The Security Council commends the efforts of the Secretary
General and his facilitator to this end and calls upon all
parties concerned to support those efforts.

Bearing in mind the relevant provisions of resolutions 1559
(2004),1680 (2006) and 1701 (2006),in particular on the
delineation of the Syrian-Lebanese border, the Security
Council takes note with interest of the appointment by the
Secretary General of a senior cartographer to review relevant

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material and develop an accurate territorial definition of
the Shab,a Farms area.

The Security Council notes with appreciation the process
launched by the Secretary General to investigate the
cartographic, legal and political implications of the
proposal contained in the seven-point plan of the Government
of Lebanon and looks forward to its further recommendations
on this issue early next year.

The Security Council calls upon the international community
urgently to provide the Government of Lebanon with financial
assistance in support of the national early recovery and
reconstruction process. It expresses its appreciation to the
Member States, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental,
regional and non-governmental organizations that have
provided and continue to provide assistance to the Lebanese
people and Government, and looks forward to the success of
the international Conference which will be held in Paris, on
25 January 2007, in support of Lebanon.

The Security Council reaffirms its full support to the
Secretary-General in his efforts and dedication to facilitate

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and assist in the fulfilment of all provisions of resolution
1701 (2006) and requests the Secretary General to report on a
quarterly basis on the implementation of this resolution,
notably on further progress made towards the achievement of a
permanent cease-fire and a long term solution.

End text.
RICE