Mideast situation/Lebanon – European Community statement – Letter from France

Letter dated 23 August 1989 from the Permanent Representative of France

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit herewith the French and English texts of the statement by the Foreign Ministers of the European Community on Lebanon issued today (see annex).

I should be obliged if you would have the text of this letter and its annex distributed as a document of the General Assembly, under item 37 of the provisional agenda, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Pierre-Louis BLANC

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Statement by the Foreign Ministers of the European Community

on Lebanon issued on 23 August 1989

In view of the persistence in Lebanon of a situation fraught with danger and of the suffering borne by all Lebanese, the twelve Foreign Ministers:

(a) Urgently appeal to all the parties to cease all gunfire and bombing on land and sea and all forms of blockade and to implement a total cease-fire, as requested by the Security Council in its statement on 15 August 1989;

(b) Urge all members of the Arab Tripartite Committee on Lebanon, whose action they have constantly supported and whom they have already approached in the last few days through the Ambassadors of the Troika, to resume their peace mission.  This mission, as illustrated by the work of the Committee, is in accordance with the objectives of national reconciliation and restoration of Lebanese sovereignty within the framework of renewed institutions, objectives of which the Twelve have constantly given their support;

(c) Are determined to intensify their action in support of Lebanon in order to relieve the sufferings of the population and contribute to the re-establishment of normal conditions of existence and to the resumption of economic and social activities.  To that end, they will send in the next few days an on-the-spot needs-assessment mission.  In the light of the findings of that mission, the Community and its member States will consider the appropriate measures.

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