Situation in southern Lebanon – CHR – Summary record (excerpts)

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Fifty-fourth session

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE 48th MEETING

Held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva,

on Thursday, 16 April 1998, at 10 a.m.

Chairman: Mr. GALLEGOS CHIRIBOGA (Ecuador)

(Vice-Chairman)

later: Mr. SELEBI (South Africa)

(Chairman)

CONTENTS

QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COLONIAL AND OTHER DEPENDENT COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES …

/…

In the absence of Mr. Selebi (South Africa), Mr. Gallegos Chiriboga (Ecuador), Vice-Chairman, took the Chair.

The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.

QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COLONIAL AND OTHER DEPENDENT COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES …

/…

104.  Mr. LAMDAN (Observer for Israel), referring to a decision regarding southern Lebanon adopted recently by his country's Ministerial Committee for National Security, said it was a serious initiative and not a diversionary tactic. It signalled Israel's willingness to withdraw in short order from southern Lebanon once it knew that international peace and security had been restored in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 of Security Council resolution 425 (1978). The decision stood on its own; it did not, for example, link the withdrawal to a peace agreement with Lebanon, and it was not at the expense of anyone or anything.

105.   The international community could help in that endeavour by assisting the Government of Lebanon to ensure the return of its effective authority in southern Lebanon, thereby obviating the need for an international peacekeeping force there. The Lebanese army had dismantled every other militia in Lebanon and, in Israel's judgement, it could also dismantle the Hizbollah in the south. It would be constructive if the Commission decided simply to take note of the draft resolution on the subject, instead of putting it to a vote.

/…

The meeting rose at 1.05 p.m.