UNSC: LEBANESE PM FOUAD SINIORA BRIEFS SECURITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000885

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC
SUBJECT: UNSC: LEBANESE PM FOUAD SINIORA BRIEFS SECURITY
COUNCIL ON LEBANESE NATIONAL DIALOGUE


1. Summary: Before a public meeting of the Security Council
April 21, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora briefed on
the Lebanese National Dialogue and delivered a strong message
in support of Council actions and the recently released
Secretary General's third report on UNSCR 1559. Siniora

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spoke forthrightly about the "heavy-handed interference in
Lebanese domestic affairs by the Syrian security
establishment." Syria demanded to speak at the meeting,
underscoring its continued interference in Lebanese affairs.
In a subsequent private meeting with the Council, Siniora
made a forceful pitch for a "strong message" from the Council
in support of Lebanese independence. End Summary.


2. During an April 21 meeting with the Security Council open
to the public, Siniora thanked the UNSC and the
Secretary-General for "instrumental" support to Lebanon

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during the past 19 months; characterized the third
semi-annual UNSCR 1559 compliance report as objective and
accurate; and updated the Council on the Lebanese National
Dialogue. He noted that the Conference of National Dialogue
initiated in March has already achieved significant progress,
having reached consensus on relations with Syria, the
delimitation of all common borders between Lebanon and Syria,
including, first and foremost, the Shebaa Farms area; policy
towards Palestinians in Lebanon; and policy on the
international investigation and judicial process relating to
the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri and his
companions. He said that the significance of reaching an
agreement on such issues should not be underestimated, that
it demonstrated the remarkable resilience of the Lebanese
people in the face of systematic attempt to terrorize and
intimidate them through bombings and assassinations as well
as the progress the Lebanese people have made towards a
strong, united, stable country.

Agreements Reached
--------------


3. Siniora characterized resolution of identity and
occupation of Shebaa farms as a priority national issue and
requested an "active role" by the UN. He argued that
agreeing with Syria on the border that separates Shebaa farms
from the Syrian Golan Heights would be an important step
towards achieving the full withdrawal of the Israelis from
Lebanon in accordance with UNSCR 425. Citing Syrian
government statements confirming that Shebaa farms are part
of Lebanese territory, Siniora said that his government had
approached Syria to begin a demarcation process but was still
awaiting a positive response from Syria.


4. On Palestinian policy, Siniora said that the National
Dialogue had yielded a consensus on implementation of policy
through dialogue, including discussions with the Palestinians
to end all armed presence outside refugee camps within 6
months after which discussions would address the issue of
weapons and security within the camps. He noted that his
government had initiated a major effort to improve the living
conditions of Palestinian refugees in cooperation with UNRWA
and to work to change living conditions in the refugee camps
in association with international community and donors.

Agreements Yet to be Reached
--------------


5. On the issue of the presidency, Siniora said that a
parliamentary majority considered Lahoud's three-year
extension in September 2004 to have been the result of Syrian
interference and coercion, but because the parliamentary
majority is not sufficient to constitutionally shorten
Lahoud's extended term, the issue has been referred to the
National Dialogue, which will reconvene on April 28. Siniora
admitted that reaching agreement would be a challenge.


6. Siniora said that the National Dialogue would also
consider the issue of Hizbullah's weapons and its role in the
defense of Lebanon. He said there is consensus that
Hizbullah was the important spear-head of the resistance that
led to the Israeli withdrawal in May 2000. Because the
Lebanese have concluded that occupied Shebaa farms are
Lebanese, the debate is now how to address the future role of
Hizbullah's weapons in defending Lebanon. He emphasized the
right of the state to have a monopoly over arms and to
exercise its full authority throughout the country; he
acknowledged that actualizing these rights remains a major
challenge.

Relations with Syria, UNIIIC
--------------


7. Siniora said that putting the Lebanese-Syrian relations

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on the right footing is a major challenge. He said that
Syria had played a constructive role in Lebanon and its
presence had prevented partition of the country. But the
scars left by the dramatic developments of the past 19 months
and the heavy-handed interference in Lebanese domestic
affairs by the Syrian security establishment for many years
would not heal easily. He said that a positive response by
Syria on Lebanon's request to establish diplomatic relations
and delineate the borders between the two countries,
including in the Shebaa farms, would be an indication that
the Syrian government is beginning to accept the idea that
good relations are possible between Syria and an independent
Lebanon.


8. Additionally, Siniora reaffirmed Lebanon's strong support
for the work of the UNIIIC, said it would strongly support an
extension of UNIIIC Chairman Brammerz's term as deemed
necessary, and that Lebanon stood willing to work with the UN
to establish the tribunal of international character.

Syria Speaks
--------------


9. Syria requested and was granted permission to speak at
the public briefing under Security Council procedural rule
37, inadvertently highlighting its interference in Lebanese
affairs. The Syrian representative asserted that Syria had
withdrawn from Lebanon in accordance with UNSCR 1559 and
rejected the assumption that issues of border demarcation and
the exchange of ambassadors with Lebanon fell within UNSCR
1559, arguing these matters are issues of state sovereignty,
under which the UN Charter forbids Security Council
involvement. Moreover, he said, given the extensive ties
between Syria and Lebanon, there was really no need for an
exchange of ambassadors; however, it was an issue that could
be discussed. As for border demarcation, Syria said that
borders could not be demarcated until Israel withdrew from
the Shebaa Farms. He also blamed "certain parties" for
spreading rumors and exciting tensions between the two
"fraternal" countries.

Closed Consultations
--------------


10. In the closed consultation that followed the open
briefing, Council members generally commended Siniora's
efforts, lauded the National Dialogue, and expressed strong
support for the range of Council activity on Lebanon.
Consistent with the Secretary General's 1559 report, many
countries that spoke welcomed the progress that had been
achieved on implementation of 1559, but regretted that many
of the resolution's requirements remained to be fulfilled.
Ambassador Sanders delivered the USG statement, which
included a demand for Syria and Iran to end the transfer of
arms and weapons to militias in Lebanon.


11. The failure of Lebanon and Syria to establish diplomatic
relations and demarcate their borders, and the disbanding and
disarming of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias were
outstanding 1559 issues highlighted by the delegations. On
the failure of the two countries to establish diplomatic
relations and demarcate their borders, Russia, echoing the
Syrian position, asserted that it viewed these issues to be
bilateral matters. Siniora effectively rebutted this
argument by noting that Syria had failed thus far to provide
a "positive response" to Lebanon. The UK also strongly
disagreed with the Russian argument. While acknowledging that
nothing in the Charter permitted interference in the internal
affairs of others, the UK PermRep countered that the Council
is certainly "allowed to comment." Moreover, expressing
strong skepticism concerning Syrian motives on these issues
generally, the UK emphasized that the delimitation of borders
and establishment of relations between Syria and Lebanon
"depended on the cooperation and goodwill of Syria."
Finally, the UK called for Syrian and Iranian compliance with
the UNCR 1559 requirement to cease support of militias in
Lebanon.


12. Qatar's remarks were uneventful, blandly stating that
Doha hoped diplomatic and "brotherly contacts" would resume
between Syria and Lebanon.


13. In response to a French question on whether he expected
to visit Damascus, Siniora reported that Damascus had not
replied to his request for a visit. In response to a second
French question seeking Siniora's assessment of the prospects
for restoring full Lebanese sovereignty throughout the
country, Siniora renewed his call for UN assistance to
restore the Shebaa Farms to Lebanese sovereignty, arguing
that once Shebaa was brought under Lebanese authority the

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result would facilitate efforts by the Lebanese government to
extend its sole authority over all Lebanese territory.
Essentially, Siniora said that resolving the Shebaa Farms
issue would remove Hizbullah's basis for remaining armed.
After responding to questions, Siniora concluded by making a
forceful pitch for a "strong message" from the Council in
support of Lebanese independence.
BOLTON