MINISTERIAL STATEMENT GOES PUBLIC

UNCLAS BEIRUT 001280 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PTER UNSC LE IS SUBJECT: MINISTERIAL STATEMENT GOES PUBLIC REF: BEIRUT 1231 ¶1. (SBU) The Lebanese Arabic-language daily newspaper An-Nahar printed today the full Arabic text of the ministerial statement text that will be debated by parliament beginning December 8. Following is the Embassy's informal translation of Articles 5-8, which deal with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, "the resistance," Lebanon's relations with its Arab neighbors, and the GOL's upcoming participation on the UN Security Council. -- Article 5: In the higher interests of Lebanon, the Lebanese government renews its respect for international resolutions and emphasizes the demand of the international community for the implementation of UNSCR 1701 and for an end to Israel's violations of it, its (Israel's) ever-present threats, and the acts of espionage which it (Israel) practices. The government will continue, on the basis of this resolution, to demand a permanent cease-fire and armistice agreement in accordance with the Taif Accord. It will also continue in demanding that Israel compensate Lebanon for the damage inflicted by its excessive aggression, to release prisoners, and return the bodies of the martyrs. -- Article 6: Based on its responsibility to protect Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, unity, and the safety of its territory, the government asserts the right of Lebanon, its people, its army, and its resistance to liberate or regain Shebaa Farms, the Lebanese Kfar Shouba Hills, and the Lebanese part of Ghajar village, its right to defend Lebanon against any aggression, and its right to keep its water through all legitimate and possible means. Lebanon affirms its commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and all it includes, and it also affirms that it will work to unite the position of the Lebanese through agreement on a comprehensive national strategy for protecting Lebanon and defending it, as endorsed by the National Dialogue. -- Article 7: The government will work on strengthening its relations with its Arab brothers, reinforcing the bonds that bring us together, and energizing common Arab efforts within the Arab League framework. The government is committed to the course of Arab solidarity avoiding axis policies, in the interest of all Arabs, and certainly in the interest of Lebanon, so that it will not become a field for regional and international conflicts but rather a sovereign, free, independent, and stable nation for all of its children; this is its right and an Arab need. -- Article 8: The government will work on strengthening the Arab and international role for Lebanon, especially through its active presence in the United Nations and on the Security Council, particularly given that our country's membership on it carries a large responsibility to defend our national rights, Arab issues, and issues of justice and peace in the world; at the forefront of those is the issue of Palestine and the national rights of its people to confront Israel and its aggressive practices, its continued occupation of Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian lands, and its violation of international laws, including humanitarian and international law. ¶2. (SBU) While the text of Article 5 is similar to the 2008 ministerial statement, the 2009 draft is expanded to include Lebanon's assessment of Israeli violations of UNSCR 1701. This is a significant departure from 2008 and earlier drafts of this year's statement (reftel). An early draft text of Article 5 read: -- Keeping in mind Lebanon's higher interests, the Lebanese government renews its respect for international laws and its claims, working on the complete implementation of its resolutions. The government will continue its demand on the basis of UNSCR 1701 for a permanent cease-fire and truce according to the Taif Agreement. ¶3. (SBU) Procedurally, to obtain a vote of confidence 65 of 128 parliamentarians (a simple majority) must vote for the statement. Article 34 of the Lebanese constitution stipulates that decisions taken by the parliament shall be decided by a majority vote (half plus one),unless otherwise stipulated. Examples of issues requiring a two-thirds majority, include, but are not limited to, amending the constitution, election of the president, and cases of impeachment. DAUGHTON