U.N. Sets 30-Day Deadline for Syria to Leave Lebanon
The United States, France and Britain have tabled a draft resolution before the Security Council for a vote on Thursday, virtually setting a 30-day deadline for Syria to pack and leave Lebanon.
The 7-point U.N. draft calls for the withdrawal of the Syrian army without delay, urges that all militias operating on Lebanese territories be disarmed and disbanded and supports the election of a new president within the framework of the Lebanese constitution without foreign influence or interference.
The draft stipulates that the affair would constantly remain under the council's effective consideration and asks the U.N. Secretary-General to present a report within 30 days on the implementation of the resolution by all parties concerned.
"The Council declares its readiness to consider additional measures to further the implementation of this resolution as it reviews the progress being made," it warned. The additional measures, diplomats at the U.N. said, could include total economic and financial blockade on Syria and Lebanon.
U.S. Ambassador John Danforth said Washington and Paris were being forced to move quickly because Lebanon's Parliament has scheduled a vote Friday to amend the constitution so that President Emile Lahoud, a close friend of Damascus, can keep his job.
"The government of Syria has put the hammer on Lebanon, basically instructing Lebanon to amend the constitution -- not to change the election process but to abort the election process, and to extend the term of the president by three years," Danforth said. "So if the Security Council is to speak about it, it has to speak about it right now."
The United States and France, Lebanon's former colonial ruler, introduced the draft resolution at a closed-door council meeting late Wednesday and Britain seconded the motion at once. The 15-member council was expected to vote late Thursday but no specific hour was set.
Many of the 15 council nations said they needed to get instructions from their capitals, but diplomats said the draft was strongly opposed by Algeria, the only Arab nation on the council.
Russia and China, which traditionally oppose council interference in a country's internal affairs, also had problems with the text as did Pakistan, the diplomats said.
Nonetheless, French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere predicted that the resolution will be adopted. "I am confident that we will get the nine votes -- I'm confident," he told The Associated Press.
A minimum of nine "yes" votes -- and no veto by a permanent member -- is needed to approve a Security Council resolution. Diplomats said Germany, Spain and Romania are expected to support the resolution. There has been no talk of a veto and China and Russia, the other permanent members, are likely to abstain along with Pakistan and Algeria.
That leaves Angola, Benin, Brazil, Chile and the Philippines as swing votes.
Syria's U.N. Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad told reporters the election of a president was an internal Lebanese matter and there was "no justification" for the council to discuss the issue. Lebanon and Syria have treaties governing their relations and there is no conflict, he said.
"The issue does not threaten world peace and security, so what justifications are given for a discussion of this type to the Security Council?," he asked. "In fact, this is a very dangerous precedent for the United Nations and for the work of the Security Council."
"When the government of Syria summons one by one the leadership of Lebanon to come to Damascus and gives marching orders on what to do, then they have created a rubber stamp and that's just plain wrong," ambassador Danforth said.
France's de La Sabliere said "the council has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the political independence and sovereignty of Lebanon."
The United States, France and Britain have tabled a draft resolution before the Security Council for a vote on Thursday, virtually setting a 30-day deadline for Syria to pack and leave Lebanon.
The 7-point U.N. draft calls for the withdrawal of the Syrian army without delay, urges that all militias operating on Lebanese territories be disarmed and disbanded and supports the election of a new president within the framework of the Lebanese constitution without foreign influence or interference.
The draft stipulates that the affair would constantly remain under the council's effective consideration and asks the U.N. Secretary-General to present a report within 30 days on the implementation of the resolution by all parties concerned.
"The Council declares its readiness to consider additional measures to further the implementation of this resolution as it reviews the progress being made," it warned. The additional measures, diplomats at the U.N. said, could include total economic and financial blockade on Syria and Lebanon.
U.S. Ambassador John Danforth said Washington and Paris were being forced to move quickly because Lebanon's Parliament has scheduled a vote Friday to amend the constitution so that President Emile Lahoud, a close friend of Damascus, can keep his job.
"The government of Syria has put the hammer on Lebanon, basically instructing Lebanon to amend the constitution -- not to change the election process but to abort the election process, and to extend the term of the president by three years," Danforth said. "So if the Security Council is to speak about it, it has to speak about it right now."
The United States and France, Lebanon's former colonial ruler, introduced the draft resolution at a closed-door council meeting late Wednesday and Britain seconded the motion at once. The 15-member council was expected to vote late Thursday but no specific hour was set.
Many of the 15 council nations said they needed to get instructions from their capitals, but diplomats said the draft was strongly opposed by Algeria, the only Arab nation on the council.
Russia and China, which traditionally oppose council interference in a country's internal affairs, also had problems with the text as did Pakistan, the diplomats said.
Nonetheless, French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere predicted that the resolution will be adopted. "I am confident that we will get the nine votes -- I'm confident," he told The Associated Press.
A minimum of nine "yes" votes -- and no veto by a permanent member -- is needed to approve a Security Council resolution. Diplomats said Germany, Spain and Romania are expected to support the resolution. There has been no talk of a veto and China and Russia, the other permanent members, are likely to abstain along with Pakistan and Algeria.
That leaves Angola, Benin, Brazil, Chile and the Philippines as swing votes.
Syria's U.N. Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad told reporters the election of a president was an internal Lebanese matter and there was "no justification" for the council to discuss the issue. Lebanon and Syria have treaties governing their relations and there is no conflict, he said.
"The issue does not threaten world peace and security, so what justifications are given for a discussion of this type to the Security Council?," he asked. "In fact, this is a very dangerous precedent for the United Nations and for the work of the Security Council."
"When the government of Syria summons one by one the leadership of Lebanon to come to Damascus and gives marching orders on what to do, then they have created a rubber stamp and that's just plain wrong," ambassador Danforth said.
France's de La Sabliere said "the council has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the political independence and sovereignty of Lebanon."
