UNSC: HEARS BRAMMERTZ, ISSUES STATEMENT ON THIRD

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000643

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC
SUBJECT: UNSC: HEARS BRAMMERTZ, ISSUES STATEMENT ON THIRD
UNIIIC INTERIM REPORT



1. In his March 16 briefing to the Security Council on the
"Third report of the International Independent Investigation
Commission (UNIIIC) established pursuant to Security Council
resolutions 1595 (2005),1636 (2005),and 1644 (2005)" that
included both his open briefing and his comments in closed
consultations that followed, UNIIIC head Serge Brammertz said
that in the eight weeks since he assumed his
responsibilities, his priority has been to address the
UNIIIC's resource needs, to ensure the continuity of the
investigation, to achieve progress in the investigation, to
provide technical assistance to the Lebanese authorities, to
make progress in obtaining Syrian cooperation and to manage
the high level of expectations -- within and outside Lebanon
-- that all these tasks will be completed quickly.


2. On organizational needs, Brammertz said that when he
arrived in Beirut in January, he found only six of 48
authorized investigators on the job, most of the remainder
having departed in late Fall in anticipation of the December
expiration of the Commission's mandate. Saying that good
people have good jobs and are generally unavailable for
short-term assignments, he asked the Council members to help
identify and make available qualified personnel to ensure
medium-term staffing stability in the run-up to the June 15
expiration of the current mandate. Regarding the continuity
of and progress in the investigation, Brammertz said that the
investigation had entered a second phase, having moved from
pure collection to preparation for a judicial process. He
said that the Commission has developed new staffing patterns
and methodological approaches to accommodate the change in
focus and, because of such adjustments, has made
(unspecified) progress in understanding the crime. He said
that an agreement had been made with the GOL not to discuss
details of lines of inquiry to safeguard the integrity of the
proceedings. On the UNSCR 1644-mandated extension of
assistance to Lebanese authorities on their investigation of
14 other possible cases of terrorism, the UNIIIC has
provided, Brammertz said such assistance could prove valuable
in finding links among the cases and with the assassination
of Rafik Hariri. He said that in providing the assistance,
the Commission had become aware of the structural
deficiencies of Lebanese law enforcement and judicial
institutions to deal with these cases.


3. On Syrian cooperation, Brammertz said that the Commission
had reached an understanding with Syria on "practical
modalities of cooperation." He said that the Commission's
expectations vis-a vis the Syrian authorities are high and
that it has already prepared several new requests for
cooperation. He said the coming weeks would prove whether
requirements have been fulfilled and that he would report to
the Council on the progress of such requests in the next
report, or earlier if necessary. Brammertz said that
managing expectations remains his key challenge, one that
means the Commission must strike a balance between an
interest in transparency and the need to protect
confidentiality of findings. He said he could not predict

SIPDIS
the outcome of the investigation and warned that it might
require as long as two years to complete an investigation.

Security Council Reactions
--------------


4. Council members reacted positively to the report, though
with varying degrees of enthusiasm. French PR de La Sabliere
said he understood the nature of the interim report and the
constraints which prevented Brammertz from providing the
details of his work. He said France would support measures
to improve the personnel situation. On Syrian cooperation,
de La Sabliere commented that it was only because of the firm
position taken by the Security Council that Syria is now
beginning to understand that it must cooperate and said he
expected Brammertz to report earlier than the next report if
Syrian cooperation was not forthcoming as pledged.
Ambassador Sanders, per Department guidance, commended
Brammertz and the work of the Commission in providing
technical assistance for the 14 other terrorist attacks,
noted Syria's agreement to arrange meetings with the
President and Vice President of Syria, and reminded the SARG
that it must make all persons unconditionally available to
the Commission. She said that on all procedures, Syria must
cooperate in substance and form. UK DPR Thompson, noting the
reference to Syrian cooperation, said that the Council would
be waiting to see whether Syria followed up on its offer to
cooperate.


5. Russian PR Denisov said Russia understood and supported
Brammertz's concern with strengthening the UNIIIC staff in
order to be achieve concrete results in the investigation.
He said that the outcome of the investigation should be based
only on the facts as developed by UNIIIC. He said that
Syrian cooperation with the UNIIIC was critical as was mutual
cooperation between all parties to the investigation. Qatari
PR Al-Nasser characterized the report as "commendable" and
without premature references to outcomes of the
investigation. Commenting on the report's reference to the
agreement between the UNIIIC and Syria on "operational
modalities," Al-Nasser said he looked forward to further
positive responses from Syria. Japanese PR Oshima, Chair of
the UNSCR 1636 Sanctions Committee, reported that the
Committee has finalized the text of the Committee guidelines.


SC Press Statement on Third Interim UNIIIC Report
-------------- --------------


6. Following the closed consultations discussion, the Council
approved a French-circulated Press Statement to be read by
Security Council President (Argentinean PR) Cesar Mayoral:
Text follows:

The members of the Security Council received a briefing today
from the Commissioner, Mr. Serge Brammertz, on the third
interim report of the International Independent Investigation
Commission on the assassination of former Prime Minister of
Lebanon Rafik Hariri.

The members of the Security Council welcomed the report and
commended Mr. Brammertz and his team for their outstanding
professional work.

The members of the Security Council noted with satisfaction
that the investigation into the terrorist attack has advanced
further. They also welcomed the steps taken by the
Commission to extend additional technical assistance to the
Lebanese judicial and law enforcement agencies with regard to
their investigation into other terrorist attacks that have
occurred in Lebanon since October 2004. They commended the
Commission and the Government of Lebanon for their excellent
working relationship.

The members of the Security Council took positive note of the
common understanding reached between the Commission and the
Syrian authorities regarding Syria's required full and
unconditional cooperation with the investigation on legal and
operational matters. They look forward to its implementation
consistent with Security Council resolutions 1595, 1636 and

1644.

Finally, the members of the Security Council reiterated their
unwavering support for the Commission and its central role in
identifying the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this
heinous terrorist act so that they can be brought to justice.
They stand ready to assist the Commission as necessary.
End Text.
BOLTON