GUIDANCE: STATEMENT FOR UNSCR 1701

UNCLAS STATE 043361 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC LE IS SUBJECT: GUIDANCE: STATEMENT FOR UNSCR 1701 CONSULTATIONS, APRIL 5 ¶1. (U) USUN is authorized to draw from the points in para 2 below during consultations on UNSC resolution 1701 currently scheduled for April 5. ¶2. (U) Begin points. -- We welcome the Secretary General's report on progress in the implementation on UNSC resolution 1701 and express our appreciation to the Special Representative and his staff. -- We applaud the efforts of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces to implement key provisions of 1701, including the arms free area south of the Litani River. The speed of this historic deployment and UNIFIL's robust rules of engagement set a new standard for UN peacekeeping operations. We remain encouraged by Israeli and Lebanese cooperation with UNIFIL and look forward to further coordination agreements with UNIFIL through tripartite meetings. -- We remain deeply concerned about arms transfers across the Lebanese border that are not authorized by either the Government of Lebanon or UNIFIL. Arms transfers to Hizballah - as the initiator of the conflict that led to UNSC resolution 1701 - requires particular scrutiny. As the report notes, Hizballah's public announcement that it has rearmed and is operating in southern Lebanon is an "open admission of activities that constitute a direct violation of relevant provisions of resolution 1701." -- In this context, we strongly support the Secretary General's intention to dispatch an independent mission to evaluate the security of Lebanon's entire border with Syria, to deliver its report and recommendations to strengthen the embargo before the next UNSCR 1701 report due in June. Additionally, we encourage this mission to evaluate the efforts of key regional neighbors, namely Syria and Iran, to comply with this embargo. -- We appreciate the Secretary General's appeals for proof of life of the two abducted Israeli soldiers; however, while we encourage this humanitarian gesture, we urge Hizballah to immediately and unconditionally release Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser and allow them to return to their families. Hizballah's public refusal to immediately release the soldiers is a rejection of this Council's clear message in resolution 1701. -- Recognizing the importance of a permanent solution to the Sheba'a Farms issue, we reiterate resolution of this issue remains contingent upon the delineation of the entire border between the Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon. We note the Security Council has authorized the Secretariat to review relevant material and develop an accurate territorial definition of the area in dispute -- the Sheba'a Farms area, not to revisit the accuracy of the Blue Line determination in 2000 or to determine the sovereignty of Sheba,a. Additionally, proposals on the Lebanese seven-point plan require careful consideration of the political and security needs of all parties. -- We reiterate our strong support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders and under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon and our full support for the legitimate and democratically-elected Government of Lebanon. We remain concerned about the continued closure of the Lebanese Parliament which prevents the parliament from fulfilling its legislative responsibilities and call for full respect of the democratic institutions of the country, in conformity with its constitution. End points. RICE