US welcomes Syria’s withdrawal from Lebanon – USDOS press release/Non-UN document (excerpts)

United States Welcomes Syria's Withdrawal from Lebanon

State's Ereli says questions remain about withdrawal of intelligence forces

By David Shelby
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington – The United States welcomes Syria’s withdrawal of its remaining military forces from Lebanon but is withholding judgment about Syria’s full compliance with the provisions of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 until the U.N. verification team issues its report on the pullout, according to State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli.

“We think today is a historic day for Lebanon and its people,” Ereli told reporters during an April 26 State Department briefing.  “After almost three decades, Syria has withdrawn its military forces from Lebanon.”

He added, however, “it's not just military forces, it's also intelligence forces.  I think there are some lingering concerns that not all Syrian intelligence assets are out of Lebanon, and it's important that they do leave Lebanon and Lebanese territory fully and completely in order to be in compliance with 1559.”

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, adopted in September 2004, calls for the complete withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon, the disbanding and disarmament of all militias and the extension of Lebanese government control over the entire territory of the country.

The resolution was adopted, in part, as a response to Syria’s perceived interference in domestic Lebanese politics.  Syria has had forces stationed in Lebanon since 1976, shortly after the beginning of the Lebanese civil war, and has exercised tremendous influence over Lebanon’s political affairs.

The United Nations has dispatched a team of observers to Lebanon and Damascus to verify whether the Syrian withdrawal is in full compliance with the resolution’s demands.

Ereli also called for the Lebanese to move ahead with parliamentary elections in May as scheduled.

“[T]hese elections will provide for a new political reality in Lebanon, and that is the reality of a government that is fully and truly representative of the people of Lebanon,” he said.

Ereli said that the United States and its Security Council partners would remain focused on ensuring that all of the provisions of Resolution 1559 are implemented, specifically those regarding the disarmament of militias and extension of Lebanese government control over the territory.

Ereli praised the international cooperation between the United States, France, the Security Council, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan in securing Syria’s military withdrawal.

He said the United States would return its ambassador, Margaret Scobey, to Damascus “when we feel it's useful for her to return.”  Scobey was recalled to Washington for consultations shortly after the February 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.