Mideast situation/Lebanon – Resolution of LAS Council – Letter from Libya

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Fiftieth session Fiftieth year

Agenda item 44

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Letter dated 9 October 1995 from the Permanent Representative

of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the United Nations addressed

to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of October, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of resolution 5495, dated 21 September 1995, adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its 104th ordinary session, concerning Lebanese hostages and detainees held in Israeli prisons and camps in occupied southern Lebanon.  I wish to draw attention to operative paragraphs 2, 3 and 5 of the resolution, which is annexed hereto.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the fiftieth regular session of the General Assembly, under agenda item 44 entitled "The situation in the Middle East", and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Mohamed A. AZWAI     

Ambassador        

Permanent Representative

Chairman of the Arab Group

95-30309 (E)   

Annex

Resolution 5495, on Lebanese detainees in Israel, adopted at

the 104th ordinary session of the League of Arab States on

21 September 1995

The Council of the League,

Having taken note of the memorandum of the General Secretariat and of the recommendation of the Political Affairs Committee,

Strongly condemning Israeli attacks and oppressive practices in the occupied Lebanese territories of southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa, in particular the kidnapping and detention of innocent citizens who are imprisoned without trial in prisons in Israel and in the camps run by its forces,

Recalling with deep regret Israel's failure to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and relevant subsequent resolutions,

Mindful of the principles of international law concerning the protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949 and The Hague Convention of 1907,

Noting that Israel has prevented the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organizations from visiting the detainees and inspecting their health and humanitarian conditions, which have caused a number of deaths,

Recalling the relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights adopted in Geneva,

Decides

1. To condemn persistent Israeli violations of human rights in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa involving the kidnapping and arbitrary arrest of civilians, destruction of their homes, confiscation of their property, expulsion from their land and the shelling of peaceful villages and urban areas;

2. To request the international community, and the United Nations in particular, to take all necessary steps to deter Israel from committing such violations and to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978) which calls for Israel's complete and unconditional withdrawal forthwith from all Lebanese territory and for respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon;

3. To request the international community to make all necessary representations to Israel to secure the release of all Lebanese prisoners and victims of kidnapping held in prisons in Israel and in the camps run by its forces in violation of the provisions of international law, the fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and The Hague Convention of 1907;

4. To urge the member States to use their good offices in international organizations so that all necessary representations are made to the Government of Israel, the occupying Power, to enable the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations to visit the detainees in Khiam and Marjayoun, to inspect their conditions, to provide them with health and humanitarian care and to allow their relatives to visit them regularly;

5. To demand the conduct of investigations, as required by international treaties, concerning Lebanese detainees who have died in Israeli camps and prisons, and the payment of appropriate compensation in accordance with the applicable international law.

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