UN Security Council Unanimously Demands Syrian Withdrawal from Lebanon

 

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday again urged Syria to withdraw its remaining 14,000 troops from Lebanon and called for reports from U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan every six months on its compliance. It was the second time in six weeks that the council demanded that Syria pull out its troops. All 15 council members agreed on the presidential statement, which was read at a formal Security Council meeting by Britain's deputy U.N. ambassador Adam Thomson, whose country currently holds the council presidency. The Security Council adopted a resolution on Sept. 2 calling on Syria to pull out all its troops from its smaller neighbor. Annan reported on Oct. 1 that Syria had not withdrawn its forces, and that Lebanon had failed to disband and disarm all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, as demanded by the council. The presidential statement adopted Tuesday aims to keep up the pressure on both Damascus and Beirut. In the statement, the council "notes with concern that the requirements set out in (the Sept. 2) resolution have not been met" and "urges relevant parties to implement fully all provisions of this resolution." Algeria, the only Arab member on the Security Council, had procrastinated over a proposal that would have had Annan report every 3 months on progress of the implementation of resolution 1559. A presidential statement must have the approval of all 15 members of the council to pass. France had circulated a draft for a second resolution calling on Syria by name to withdraw from Lebanon. The resolution would have needed only a 9-6 majority to pass, provided no Security Council member with a permanent seat casts a veto vote.(AP-Naharnet)

Beirut, Updated 19 Oct 04, 17:27