By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : After weeks of negotiations, the Security Council has reiterated in a weakened statement its commitment to see “all provisions” of resolution 1701 “fully implemented” and called on “all concerned parties in the region” to intensify their efforts to establish a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution between Israel and the Hezbollah.
In a statement read out on behalf of council members Tuesday, Security Council President Dumisani Kumalo, of South Africa, said in an open meeting that the council “takes note” of the progress as well as of the concerns expressed by the UN secretary-general regarding the implementation of the resolution, and emphasized the need for “greater progress on all the key issues” required for a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution.
The council also called upon “all concerned parties, in particular in the region,” to intensify their efforts in implementing resolution 1701, including by fully cooperating with the UN secretary-general in this regard.
The council also reiterated its full support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and called on all parties to abide by their obligations to respect the safety of UN personnel.
It further stressed the “importance of, and the need” to achieve, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on all its relevant resolutions including its resolutions 242 (1967) of Nov 22, 1967 and 338 (1973) of Oct 22, 1973.
China, Libya, Indonesia and South Africa succeeded in deleting a number of paragraphs from the original US-French-sponsored statement, including one that would have called on the Hezbollah to release the two Israeli soldiers abducted since the summer of 2006 and another that would have urged all member states to enforce the arms embargo and would have expressed concern over ongoing reports that point to breaches of the arms embargo, in violation of resolution 1701.
These countries also succeeded in deleting another paragraph by which the council would have expressed concern over the repercussions of the continuation of the political impasse in Lebanon and would have reiterated its call for the holding without delay of a free and fair presidential election without foreign interference.
Resolution 1701 established a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in August 2006 but also called on them to support a long-term solution based on, among others, full respect for the Blue Line; full implementation of the Taif Accords; no foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its government; no sales or supply of arms to Lebanon except as authorised by its government; and provision by Israel to the UN of all remaining maps of landmines in Lebanon.
French envoy Jean-Maurice Ripert later told reporters that his government is “very satisfied” by the council adoption of the statement. “This statement sends a very clear message. It is fundamental that all provisions of resolution 1701 be implemented and that all concerned parties cooperate in the implementation of this resolution. It is a success for us since the council did not adopt a statement on the resolution since last August,” he said.