Annan Bound for Beirut

BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) -- U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan will discuss the deployment and role of a planned 15,000-strong peacekeeping force for southern Lebanon when he visits Beirut on Monday for the first time since the Israel-Hezbollah war.

Other issues are likely to include the lifting of an Israeli air and sea blockade of Lebanon, policing of the Lebanese-Syrian border to stop arms smuggling and a possible prisoner swap between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla group.

Annan, due to meet Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri, was seeking full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, a U.N. spokesman said at the weekend.

The resolution ended a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah on August 14 but also made a series of demands on Israel, Lebanon and the international community which have yet to be met.

It urged the reopening of Lebanon's airports and harbors, blockaded by Israel since the start of the war, and the securing of Lebanon's land borders to prevent arms smuggling.

The resolution also called for the international community to provide enough troops to allow the United Nations to boost the size of its current UNIFIL force in Lebanon from 2,000 to 15,000.

Annan discussed the European Union contribution to the expanded force with EU leaders in Brussels on Friday. He said France, which has promised 2,000 troops, would lead it until February when Italy, which has pledged 3,000, would take over.

"We should deploy, I hope, within the next few days, not the next few weeks," Annan said after the talks.

A close aide to Siniora said Annan would brief the prime minister on the Brussels talks.

"But the government will press him first to pressure Israel to end its blockade on Lebanon because it violates Security Council resolution 1701 and threatens stability in Lebanon," the aide told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Weapons

Israel says until the expanded UNIFIL force arrives to police southern Lebanon, the blockade is essential to prevent weapons reaching Hezbollah. Since the end of the war it has relaxed the blockade, allowing commercial planes to fly in and out of Beirut through Amman in Jordan.

The Jewish state wants U.N. troops to police the 375 km (233 miles) Lebanese-Syrian border to prevent the smuggling of arms to Hezbollah, but Syria has said such a move would be hostile and has threatened to close the border if it happens.

That would effectively cut Lebanon off from the outside world as the country's only other land border is with Israel, with which it has no diplomatic ties.

Resolution 1701 does not specifically call for the deployment of U.N. troops to the Lebanese-Syrian border but asks UNIFIL to assist the Lebanese government "at its request" in securing the country's borders.

Also expected to be discussed is the release of Israeli and Hezbollah prisoners, including two Israeli soldiers whose seizure by the Shi'ite Muslim group on July 12 sparked the war.

Hezbollah wants to exchange them for some of the thousands of Arab prisoners, including Lebanese, in Israeli jails.

Annan has said both sides will have to make "painful compromises" to get what they want.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Sunday contacts had been made that might eventually lead to negotiations over prisoners.

"It seems that Italy is trying to get into the subject. The United Nations is interested and the negotiations would be through Berri," Nasrallah said in a television interview.

An Israeli official said on Sunday: "There are no negotiations over the exchange of prisoners."

As well as visiting Beirut, Annan is expected to travel to southern Lebanon. He will go to Israel on Tuesday and is also due to visit Syria and Iran as part of his Middle East tour.

UNSC Resolution 1701 Aug 11, 2006

United Nations S/RES/1701 (2006)

Security Council Distr.: General 11 August 2006

Resolution 1701 (2006)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 5511th meeting, on 11 August 2006
The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular resolutions
425 (1978), 426 (1978), 520 (1982), 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006) 1680 (2006) and
1697 (2006), as well as the statements of its President on the situation in
Lebanon, in particular the statements of 18 June 2000 (S/PRST/2000/21), of
19 October 2004 (S/PRST/2004/36), of 4 May 2005 (S/PRST/2005/17), of 23
January 2006 (S/PRST/2006/3) and of 30 July 2006 (S/PRST/2006/35),

Expressing its utmost concern at the continuing escalation of hostilities in
Lebanon and in Israel since Hizbollah's attack on Israel on 12 July 2006,
which has already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on both sides,
extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of
internally displaced persons,

Emphasizing the need for an end of violence, but at the same time
emphasizing the need to address urgently the causes that have given rise to
the current crisis, including by the unconditional release of the abducted
Israeli soldiers,

Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners and encouraging the
efforts aimed at urgently settling the issue of the Lebanese prisoners
detained in Israel,

Welcoming the efforts of the Lebanese Prime Minister and the commitment of
the Government of Lebanon, in its seven-point plan, to extend its authority
over its territory, through its own legitimate armed forces, such that there
will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of Lebanon and no
authority other than that of the Government of Lebanon, welcoming also its
commitment to a United Nations force that is supplemented and enhanced in
numbers, equipment, mandate and scope of operation, and bearing in mind its
request in this plan for an immediate withdrawal of the Israeli forces from
southern Lebanon,

Determined to act for this withdrawal to happen at the earliest,

Taking due note of the proposals made in the seven-point plan regarding the
Shebaa farms area,

Welcoming the unanimous decision by the Government of Lebanon on 7 August
2006 to deploy a Lebanese armed force of 15,000 troops in South Lebanon as
the Israeli army withdraws behind the Blue Line and to request the
assistance of

06-46503 (E)

S/RES/1701 (2006)

additional forces from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
as needed, to facilitate the entry of the Lebanese armed forces into the
region and to restate its intention to strengthen the Lebanese armed forces
with material as needed to enable it to perform its duties,

Aware of its responsibilities to help secure a permanent ceasefire and a
long-term solution to the conflict,

Determining that the situation in Lebanon constitutes a threat to
international peace and security,

Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the
immediate cessation by Hizbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation
by Israel of all offensive military operations;

Upon full cessation of hostilities, calls upon the Government of Lebanon and
UNIFIL as authorized by paragraph 11 to deploy their forces together
throughout the South and calls upon the Government of Israel, as that
deployment begins, to withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon in
parallel;

Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the Government
of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the provisions of
resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the relevant
provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full sovereignty, so
that there will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of
Lebanon and no authority other than that of the Government of Lebanon;

4. Reiterates its strong support for full respect for the Blue Line;

Also reiterates its strong support, as recalled in all its previous relevant
resolutions, for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political
independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders, as
contemplated by the Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement of 23 March
1949;

Calls on the international community to take immediate steps to extend its
financial and humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people, including
through facilitating the safe return of displaced persons and, under the
authority of the Government of Lebanon, reopening airports and harbours,
consistent with paragraphs 14 and 15, and calls on it also to consider
further assistance in the future to contribute to the reconstruction and
development of Lebanon;

Affirms that all parties are responsible for ensuring that no action is
taken contrary to paragraph 1 that might adversely affect the search for a
long-term solution, humanitarian access to civilian populations, including
safe passage for humanitarian convoys, or the voluntary and safe return of
displaced persons, and calls on all parties to comply with this
responsibility and to cooperate with the Security Council;

Calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a
long-term solution based on the following principles and elements:

full respect for the Blue Line by both parties;

security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including
the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free
of any

S/RES/1701 (2006)
armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Government of
Lebanon and of UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11, deployed in this area;

-
full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of
resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), that require the disarmament of all
armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision
of 27 July 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than
that of the Lebanese State;
-
no foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its Government;
-
no sales or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon except as
authorized by its Government;
-
provision to the United Nations of all remaining maps of landmines in
Lebanon in Israel's possession;
Invites the Secretary-General to support efforts to secure as soon as
possible agreements in principle from the Government of Lebanon and the
Government of Israel to the principles and elements for a long-term solution
as set forth in paragraph 8, and expresses its intention to be actively
involved;

Requests the Secretary-General to develop, in liaison with relevant
international actors and the concerned parties, proposals to implement the
relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and resolutions 1559 (2004) and
1680 (2006), including disarmament, and for delineation of the international
borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed
or uncertain, including by dealing with the Shebaa farms area, and to
present to the Security Council those proposals within thirty days;

Decides, in order to supplement and enhance the force in numbers, equipment,
mandate and scope of operations, to authorize an increase in the force
strength of UNIFIL to a maximum of 15,000 troops, and that the force shall,
in addition to carrying out its mandate under resolutions 425 and 426
(1978):

(a) Monitor the cessation of hostilities;

(b)
Accompany and support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout
the South, including along the Blue Line, as Israel withdraws its armed
forces from Lebanon as provided in paragraph 2;
(c)
Coordinate its activities related to paragraph 11 (b) with the Government of
Lebanon and the Government of Israel;
(d)
Extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian
populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons;
(e)
Assist the Lebanese armed forces in taking steps towards the establishment
of the area as referred to in paragraph 8;
(f)
Assist the Government of Lebanon, at its request, to implement paragraph 14;

12. Acting in support of a request from the Government of Lebanon to deploy
an international force to assist it to exercise its authority throughout the
territory, authorizes UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of
deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure
that its area of operations

S/RES/1701 (2006)

is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by
forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate
of the Security Council, and to protect United Nations personnel,
facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of
movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and, without
prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect
civilians under imminent threat of physical violence;

Requests the Secretary-General urgently to put in place measures to ensure
UNIFIL is able to carry out the functions envisaged in this resolution,
urges Member States to consider making appropriate contributions to UNIFIL
and to respond positively to requests for assistance from the Force, and
expresses its strong appreciation to those who have contributed to UNIFIL in
the past;

Calls upon the Government of Lebanon to secure its borders and other entry
points to prevent the entry in Lebanon without its consent of arms or
related materiel and requests UNIFIL as authorized in paragraph 11 to assist
the Government of Lebanon at its request;

Decides further that all States shall take the necessary measures to
prevent, by their nationals or from their territories or using their flag
vessels or aircraft:

(a)
The sale or supply to any entity or individual in Lebanon of arms and
related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military
vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the
aforementioned, whether or not originating in their territories; and
(b)
The provision to any entity or individual in Lebanon of any technical
training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or
use of the items listed in subparagraph (a) above;
except that these prohibitions shall not apply to arms, related material,
training or assistance authorized by the Government of Lebanon or by UNIFIL
as authorized in paragraph 11;

Decides to extend the mandate of UNIFIL until 31 August 2007, and expresses
its intention to consider in a later resolution further enhancements to the
mandate and other steps to contribute to the implementation of a permanent
ceasefire and a long-term solution;

Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council within one week on
the implementation of this resolution and subsequently on a regular basis;

Stresses 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 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22
October 1973 and 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003;

19. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Rules of engagement for U.N. force in Lebanon

Document reveals proposed rules of engagement for U.N. force in Lebanon

Posted 8/22/2006 9:56 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Proposed rules of engagement for an expanded U.N. force in southern Lebanon would allow troops to open fire in self-defense, protect civilians and back up the Lebanese army in preventing foreign forces or arms from crossing the border, according to a U.N. document obtained Tuesday.

The 20-page draft was circulated to potential troop-contributing countries last week by the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations, which is trying to get an additional 3,500 troops on the ground by the end of next week to strengthen the 2,000 overstretched U.N. peacekeepers already there.

The rules of engagement for the expanded force — obtained by The Associated Press — have held back some potential troop contributors because of concerns that their soldiers would be required to disarm Hezbollah, which has controlled southern Lebanon.

Some countries have also been concerned that the rules would be overly restrictive, all but preventing commanders from making quick decisions — including using force if needed.

While remaining "predominantly defensive in nature," the draft rules allow for the use of "deadly force" and offensive action, if necessary, to ensure implementation of the Aug. 11 U.N. resolution that led to the fragile cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah fighters after a brutal 34-day war.

Although there is no authorization in the Security Council mandate or the rules of engagement to disarm Hezbollah, the rules are sufficiently robust to put the U.N. potentially in conflict with armed groups violating the cease-fire or the arms embargo — including Hezbollah. The rules would also give the U.N. commander on the ground wide-ranging authority to react.

The United Nations got pledges of 3,500 troops for the vanguard of the expanded force last Thursday, but most were from Muslim countries. The U.N. has appealed to European countries to contribute troops to balance the expanded force so that both Israel and Lebanon will view it as legitimate.

France, which commands the current force and was expected to remain in charge, disappointed the United States, the United Nations and many other countries by committing only 200 additional combat engineers to the 200 troops that are part of the current force.

But a well-informed U.N. diplomat said France is considering increasing its commitment, and a high-level meeting is planned Thursday with President Jacques Chirac, the foreign and defense ministers and key military officials. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because no decision has been made.

France may have been spurred to consider a significant increase by Italy's offer on Monday to take command of the force. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has indicated Italy would be prepared to send up to 3,000 troops, but has not made a commitment to specific numbers.

The European Union has called a foreign ministers meeting in Brussels Friday to discuss EU contributions to an expanded U.N. force with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the EU presidency said Tuesday.

Annan will head to the Middle East from Brussels and diplomats said he is expected to visit Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Iran in an effort to promote support for full implementation of the U.N. cease-fire resolution.

It calls for 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers and another 15,000 Lebanese army troops to deploy to southern Lebanon, as Israeli troops withdraw. The U.N. force is also authorized to help the Lebanese army establish a buffer zone in the south and secure its borders to prevent arms smuggling.

President Bush and Annan have urged a speedy deployment of peacekeepers.

Europeans — haunted by casualties on peacekeeping missions from Bosnia to Rwanda and Lebanon itself in the 1980s — are wary of committing troops without guarantees they will not get sucked into a poorly prepared and meekly mandated operation before they make firm commitments.

The draft rules of engagement would allow "use of force, up to and including deadly force, while assisting the government of Lebanon, at its request to secure its borders and other points of entry to prevent the entry into Lebanon, without its consent, of foreign forces, arms or related material."

The rules would also authorize lethal force to "protect civilians under imminent threat of violence, when competent local authorities are unavailable or unable to render immediate assistance." Force could also be used "to ensure the security and freedom of movement of U.N. personnel and humanitarian workers."

Deal forged on UN Mideast ceasefire draft - August 11, 2006

France and the United States reached agreement on Friday on a draft resolution for halting the bloodshed in Lebanon and Israel, British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett said.

The full 15-nation U.N. Security Council gets the new revised text shortly and a vote was expected late on Friday, British, U.S. and French officials said.

Israel and Lebanon have received the draft but Beckett said sponsors of the resolution would push ahead for a vote, regardless of their response, following days of consultations with both governments.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Beckett had arrived in New York expecting to participate in last-minute talks. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy was en route to New York.

Rice phoned both Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to try to get them to accept the text, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told Reuters.

The draft resolution, forged on the same day Israel ordered an expansion of its ground offensive, calls for an immediate "cessation of hostilities" followed by a phased withdrawal of Israeli units as the Lebanese army and an expanded U.N. peacekeeping force move into the south.

Beckett said Israel and Lebanon were expected to agree but she did not expect either country to "go out and say we accept every bit of text but that they would implement the text."

She cautioned that the resolution was a short-term plan. "We're not here trying to solve all the problems of the Middle East overnight," Beckett said.

CHAPTER 7 HAGGLING

At the insistence of Lebanon, the United States and Britain agreed to drop a reference to Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which permits a robust U.N. peacekeeping operation and instead put the resolution under the weaker Chapter 6.

British U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said the text would carry language that would permit peacekeepers to use force to implement their mission.

More than 1,000 Lebanese and 121 Israelis have been killed in the five-week-old war that began on July 12 with the cross-border abduction of two Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah guerrillas.

Lebanon had rejected an international force not under U.N. control while Israel, which planned to deploy more troops in Lebanon, insisted on a strong multinational force before it would withdraw.

The latest compromise proposal calls for a phased withdrawal by Israeli troops as the Lebanese army deploys 15,000 troops in the south, controlled by Hizbollah.

At the same time, the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, would be reinforced by French and other troops, perhaps as many as 15,000. As part of the deal, Hizbollah would pull out from south of the Litani River, 13 miles from the Israeli border.

But the text is not expected to define when Hizbollah would be disarmed and by whom, as called for in previous U.N. resolutions.

As in earlier drafts, the resolution is expected to include an arms embargo on weapons flowing to militia in Lebanon except for those ordered by the Beirut army and U.N. forces.

A second resolution is expected to follow within a month setting out terms for a permanent cease-fire.

Lebanon also wanted language changes on the disputed Shebaa Farms strip, occupied by Israel. Lebanon claims the territory, which the United Nations says is part of Syria unless Damascus agrees legally to change the border.

Beirut had wanted U.N. peacekeepers to occupy Shebaa on the Syrian-Israeli-Lebanese border until the borders were demarcated but the United States and France dropped this demand.

Source: Reuters

U.N.'s Mideast Diplomatic Efforts Falter

WRAL.com

POSTED: 4:00 am EDT August 10, 2006
UPDATED: 4:00 am EDT August 10, 2006

UNITED NATIONS -- Diplomatic efforts to reach quick agreement on a U.N.
resolution aimed at ending the escalating Israeli-Hezbollah conflict
faltered Wednesday over differences between the United States and France on
the timing of an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
AP Photo/David Karp
Nouhad Mahmoud, Lebanese special envoy to United Nations speaks to reporters
regarding the Israel-Lebanon conflict at United Nations headquarters
Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006.

As Israel approved a broader and bigger ground offensive in southern
Lebanon, France was backing Lebanon's call for Israeli troops to pull out
once hostilities end and Lebanon deploys 15,000 troops of its own. The
United States was supporting Israel's insistence on staying until a robust
international force is deployed.

The dispute between the co-sponsors of the draft Security Council resolution
sparked a flurry of meetings Wednesday and raised the possibility of rival
U.S. and French resolutions _ or no resolution at all for the time being.

In negotiations with Britain, China, the U.S. and Russia on Wednesday
evening, France presented the latest language in the draft resolution, a
Security Council diplomat said. One key amendment "calls upon the government
of Lebanon, upon cessation of hostilities, to start deploying its armed
forces throughout the south as the Israeli army starts withdrawing behind
the Blue Line in coordination with UNIFIL," the U.N. peacekeeping force now
in the region. The Blue Line is the U.N.-drawn boundary between Lebanon and
Israel.

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were
secret.

In negotiations with Britain, China, the U.S. and Russia on Wednesday
evening, France presented language it had discussed the day before, a U.N.
Security Council diplomat said. The amendment would say Lebanese troops
should start deploying in south Lebanon with the support of U.N.
peacekeepers now present in the region, "as the Israeli army starts
withdrawing below the Blue Line," the U.N.-drawn boundary between Israel and
Lebanon.

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were
secret.

The U.S. response to that idea was not immediately clear, though U.S.
Ambassador John Bolton said differences remained. U.S. officials had
previously said the main issues were matters of sequencing _ which steps
should happen first.

"We're all still operating in very good faith and trying to resolve some
difficult issues that we've known for some time," Bolton said. "But my sense
is that we're getting closer in a way to resolving some of them. But I don't
want to underestimate the conceptual and operational differences that we're
trying to overcome."

French President Jacques Chirac said the draft resolution should be revised
to take into account Lebanese and Arab demands for changes. He appealed to
the U.S. at a news conference in Toulon to speed up its response to these
demands, and warned that giving up the push for an immediate end to the
fighting would be the "most immoral" response.

Chirac said that if France and the United States don't reach agreement, "we
will have a debate in the Security Council and each will affirm clearly its
position, naturally including France, through its own resolution."

The U.S.-French draft circulated Saturday calls for "a full cessation of
hostilities," with Hezbollah immediately stopping all attacks and Israel
ending offensive military operations. But Israel would still be allowed to
take defensive action and there is no call for the withdrawal of its troops
from southern Lebanon, which is Hezbollah's stronghold.

Lebanon opposed the draft, saying it favored Israel too strongly. The
Lebanese government demanded that the cessation of hostilities must be
complete _ including all Israeli military activity _ and all Israeli troops
must leave. It warned that their presence would be viewed as a new
occupation and citing Hezbollah's threat to shoot at any Israeli soldiers in
the country.

On Monday, Lebanon offered to deploy 15,000 troops in south Lebanon. France
wants a revised resolution to build on the Lebanese announcement, which
would fulfill a demand in a September 2004 Security Council resolution that
the government extend its authority throughout southern Lebanon.

Paris maintains that before the deployment of an international force _ which
it may lead _ there should be an intermediate step to reinforce the
2,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, diplomats said,
speaking on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are closed.

Bolton said the United States believes Lebanon's decision to deploy the army
in the south "is significant and we are going to take account of that in the
resolution."

"The strategic issue, however, remains the same as it has been from near the
outset of this, which is that everybody wants to see this used to transform
the situation in the region _ which means fundamentally that we don't want
Hezbollah to re-infiltrate the southern part of Lebanon," he said.

U.S. officials said a cease-fire deal could accommodate both Arab demands
for an immediate Israeli pullout from southern Lebanon and U.S. and Israeli
demands that no security vacuum be left for Hezbollah to fill.

Other members of the Security Council appeared increasingly impatient with
the lack of a resolution so far.

As a practical matter, Israeli forces would need several days or longer to
leave, and the departure would be coordinated with deployment of a
replacement force that is acceptable to the Lebanese, U.S. officials said.

The composition and mandate of the replacement force is a sticking point,
but U.S. officials said it could be a combination of Lebanese and foreign
forces, perhaps under the banner of the U.N. force.

Bolton said this raises a number of issues that are the current focus of
debate, including how to ensure an effective security presence in southern
Lebanon as Israeli forces withdraw; how to put a security operation
together; and how an operation would become part of the effort to fulfill
the U.N. resolution demanding the disarmament of all militias and the
extension of Lebanese government authority throughout the country.

Lebanon also wants the resolution to include a commitment to release
Lebanese and Israeli prisoners and an agreement to put the disputed Chebaa
Farms area on the Lebanon-Syria-Israel border under U.N. jurisdiction.

___

Associated Press Writers Anne Gearan in Washington and Christine Ollivier in
Toulon, France, contributed to this report

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Draft UNSC resolution on Lebanon Aug 5, 2006

Saturday, August 5, 2006; 12:31 PM

The Security Council,

PP1. Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular
resolutions 425 (1978), 426 (1978), 520 (1982), 1559 (2004), 1655 (2006) and
1680 (2006), as well as the statements of its President on the situation in
Lebanon, in particular the statements of 18 June 2000 (S/PRST/2000/21), of
19 October 2004 (S/PRST/2004/36), of 4 May 2005 (S/PRST/2005/17) of 23
January 2006 (S/PRST/2006/3) and of 30 July 2006 (S/PRST/2006/35),

PP2. Expressing its utmost concern at the continuing escalation of
hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since Hizbollah's attack on Israel on
12 July 2006, which has already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on
both sides, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of
thousands of internally displaced persons,

PP3. Emphasizing the need for an end of violence, but at the same time
emphasizing the need to address urgently the causes that have given rise to
the current crisis, including by the unconditional release of the abducted
Israeli soldiers,

PP4: Mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners and encouraging
the efforts aimed at settling the issue of the Lebanese prisoners detained
in Israel,

OP1. Calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular,
the immediate cessation by Hizbollah of all attacks and the immediate
cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations;

OP2. Reiterates its strong support for full respect for the Blue Line;

OP3. Also reiterates its strong support for the territorial integrity,
sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally
recognized borders, as contemplated by the Israeli-Lebanese General
Armistice Agreement of 23 March 1949;

OP4. Calls on the international community to take immediate steps to extend
its financial and humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people, including
through facilitating the safe return of displaced persons and, under the
authority of the Government of Lebanon, reopening airports and harbours for
verifiably and purely civilian purposes, and calls on it also to consider
further assistance in the future to contribute to the reconstruction and
development of Lebanon;

OP5. Emphasizes the importance of the extension of the control of the
Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory in accordance with the
provisions of resolution 1559 (2004) and resolution 1680 (2006), and of the
relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, for it to exercise its full
sovereignty and authority;

OP6. Calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and a
long-term solution based on the following principles and elements:

- strict respect by all parties for the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Israel and Lebanon;

- full respect for the Blue Line by both parties;

- delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, especially in those
areas where the border is disputed or uncertain, including in the Shebaa
farms area;

- security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including
the establishment between the Blue Line and the Litani river of an area free
of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Lebanese
armed and security forces and of UN mandated international forces deployed
in this area;

- full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords and of
resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006) that require the disarmament of all
armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision
of July 27, 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other
than that of the Lebanese state;

- deployment of an international force in Lebanon, consistent with paragraph
10 below;

- establishment of an international embargo on the sale or supply of arms
and related material to Lebanon except as authorized by its government;

- elimination of foreign forces in Lebanon without the consent of its
government;

- provision to the United Nations of remaining maps of land mines in Lebanon
in Israel's possession;

OP7. Invites the Secretary General to support efforts to secure agreements
in principle from the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel to
the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set forth in
paragraph 6 above;

OP8. Requests the Secretary General to develop, in liaison with key
international actors and the concerned parties, proposals to implement the
relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and
1680 (2006), including disarmament, and for delineation of the international
borders of Lebanon, especially in those areas where the border is disputed
or uncertain, including by dealing with the Shebaa farms, and to present
those proposals to the Security Council within thirty days;

OP9. Calls on all parties to cooperate during this period with the Security
Council and to refrain from any action contrary to paragraph 1 above that
might adversely affect the search for a long-term solution, humanitarian
access to civilian populations, or the safe return of displaced persons, and
requests the Secretary General to keep the Council informed in this regard;

OP10. Expresses its intention, upon confirmation to the Security Council
that the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel have agreed in
principle to the principles and elements for a long-term solution as set
forth in paragraph 6 above, and subject to their approval, to authorize in a
further resolution under Chapter VII of the Charter the deployment of a UN
mandated international force to support the Lebanese armed forces and
government in providing a secure environment and contribute to the
implementation of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution;

OP11. Requests UNIFIL, upon cessation of hostilities, to monitor its
implementation and to extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian
access to civilian populations and the safe return of displaced persons;

OP12. Calls upon the Government of Lebanon to ensure arms or related
materiel are not imported into Lebanon without its consent and requests
UNIFIL, conditions permitting, to assist the Government of Lebanon at its
request;

OP13. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council within one
week on the implementation of this resolution and to provide any relevant
information in light of the Council's intention to adopt, consistent with
paragraph 10 above, a further resolution;

OP14. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.