EU Presidency statement on Lebanon – Letter from Austria

Letter dated 20 January 2006 from the Permanent

Representative of Austria to the United Nations addressed

to the Secretary-General 

  I have the honour to draw your attention to the statement on Lebanon, issued on 16 January 2006 by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union (see annex).

  I would be grateful if the present letter and its annex could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

( Signed) Gerhard Pfanzelter

Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations

Annex to the letter dated 20 January 2006 from the Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations addressed to

the Secretary-General

[Original: English, French and Spanish]

Statement on Lebanon, issued on 16 January 2006 by

the Presidency on behalf of the European Union

  The European Union is deeply committed to the stability, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon.

  The European Union welcomes the appointment of Serge Brammertz to head the International Investigation Commission into the assassination of Rafik Hariri. It commends the exemplary work accomplished by Detlev Mehlis as head of the Investigation Commission and thanks him for his action in seeking out justice and truth.

  The European Union reiterates the need for Security Council resolutions 1595 (2005), 1636 (2005) and 1644 (2005) to be implemented and, pursuant to those resolutions, for the Syrian Arab Republic to cooperate fully and unconditionally with the Investigation Commission.

  It expresses its deep concern over the murders of innocent citizens carried out in Lebanon. It hopes that light will be shed upon these crimes and issues a solemn warning to the perpetrators and their backers.

 The European Union reaffirms its full support for the Government of

Mr. Fouad Siniora. It calls on all the political forces of Lebanon to play their part in ensuring that the Government loses no time in implementing the reforms necessary for the progress of the democratic Lebanon that emerged from the elections of June 2005.

  The European Union reiterates the importance it attaches to the Lebanese Government extending its authority to the entire national territory and encourages it to continue the dialogue begun, in accordance with resolution 1559 (2004) with a view to the disarmament of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias.

  It fully supports the intention of the Lebanese Government to enter into negotiations with the Syrian Arab Republic with a view to demarcating the entire border separating the two countries.

^_

________________