HONDURAS OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN LEBANON

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001487 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR P, NEA, NEA/IR STATE FOR WHA, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS UN UNSC IS LE HO SUBJECT: HONDURAS OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON SITUATION IN LEBANON REF: STATE 132517 ¶1. In response to Post's deliverance of the NIACT reftel demarche on UN Security Council Resolution on Lebanon, Eduardo Rosales Ramirez, Director General of Foreign Policy, delivered to Post the GOH's official paper position on the situation between Israel and Lebanon. The position is stated in the annex to the letter dated August 8 from the Permanent Representative of Honduras to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary General. The official translation follows. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Honduras wishes to communicate the deep regret of the Government of Honduras at the critical situation in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon, where hundreds of civilians have suffered as a result. In that connection, the Government of Honduras concurs with the Statement by the President of the Security Council of 27 July 2006, expressing shock at "the firing by the Israeli Defence Forces on a United Nations Observer post in southern Lebanon on 25 July 2006, which caused the death of four United Nations military observers." The Government of Honduras calls on countries involved in the military conflict to halt hostilities, for the necessary action to be taken to avoid continued civilian casualties, displacement of civilians and the destruction of their homes, and for efforts to be made to reach a solution which satisfies the parties and guarantees international peace and security. Directorate for International Communication 3 August 2006 END TEXT ¶3. Post is still waiting for GOH's official reaction to the UNSC Resolution 1701 and will communicate the response in a septel to follow. END TEXT FORD