LEBANON: SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES DOHA AGREEMENT

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000459 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC SY LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES DOHA AGREEMENT ¶1. (SBU) The UN Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement (PRST) on May 22 welcoming the agreement between Lebanese leaders reached in Doha, Qatar one day earlier. The text of the PRST is contained in paragraph 2. Although USUN pushed hard for language calling for full implementation of the Doha agreement in conformity with UNSC resolutions 1559, 1680, and 1701, Russia, China, Libya, and South Africa argued that a "selective" reference to "controversial" resolutions would undermine the Doha process, and was therefore unnecessary. (They were supported in this view by the Qatari PermRep.) USUN noted that UN member states are bound by the Charter to support all resolutions, whether or not they are controversial, and that 1559, 1680, and 1701 all address the same issues as Doha -- the restoration of Lebanon's political independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity. Enumerating them in this PRST is no different than specifying resolutions 242, 338, and 1515 in UNSC statements on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Russia and the others refused to relent, and with the French and British, who initially supported the U.S. position, ready to concede the point, the PRST was adopted with a reference to "all relevant resolutions" on Lebanon. The British PermRep, however, agreed to Amb Wolff's suggestion that he mention the three resolutions to the press when briefing them on the PRST. ¶2. Begin text of the Presidential Statement (PRST): The Security Council congratulates the leaders and people of Lebanon and welcomes and strongly supports the agreement reached in Doha on May 21 under the auspices of the Arab League, which constitutes an essential step towards the resolution of the current crisis, the return to the normal functioning of Lebanese democratic institutions, and the complete restoration of Lebanon's unity and stability. It commends the efforts of the Arab League, in particular of the committee of Foreign Ministers, under the leadership of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, and Secretary-General Amr Moussa, in helping Lebanese leaders reach an agreement. It welcomes the agreement to elect a President of the Republic, to establish a national unity cabinet and to address Lebanon's electoral law, in accordance with the Arab League initiative, as well as the decision to continue the national dialogue on ways to reinforce the authority of the state over all its territory, in such a way to guarantee the sovereignty and the safety of the state and the people of Lebanon. It welcomes the agreement to ban the use of weapons and violence as a means to settle disputes, irrespective of their nature and under any circumstances. It calls for the implementation of this agreement in its entirety, in accordance with the Arab League initiative, and in conformity with the Taef Agreement and all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and statements of its President on the situation in Lebanon. The Security Council 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 over all Lebanese territory. Khalilzad