UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS ON LEBANON

October 25, 1993 

Aside from the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon, which we are all too familiar with, the United Nations address several issues which are intricately connected to the Israeli withdrawal as predicated by the enclosed documents. 

In almost all its documents the U.N. "Calls for strict respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries." These calls are not directed specifically towards any particular party and clearly include all those who infringe on Lebanon. This is further expanded upon in Resolution 520 - the last major resolution on Lebanon, other than the semi-annual extension of the UNIFIL mandate - were the U.N. calls for the same "under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon through the Lebanese Army throughout Lebanon." 

U.N. Resolutions and Statements also make clear their determination to end all hostilities within Lebanon and across the Lebanese-Israeli border. The U.N. makes specific references to "de facto forces" operating from Lebanon and through the UNIFIL zone, and all those supporting and supplying the de facto forces. 

Thus compliance with U.N. Resolutions and international law would entail all armed forces, regular and irregular, with the exception of the Lebanese Armed Forces, to leave Lebanon and refrain from initiating, supporting or abetting any hostilities within or through Lebanese territories. 

In contrast to the often heard unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces, the U.N. states that the Governments of Lebanon and Israel must meet to reach an agreement on the modalities of withdrawal and establishing international peace across their international borders. This is clearly spelled out in the Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 425. 

The Report reasserts the validity of the General Armistice Agreement between Lebanon and Israel, also referenced repeatedly throughout the U.N. documentation, as the basic framework for Lebanese Israeli relations. The UNIFIL is established to return South Lebanon to Lebanese Government Authority, reactivate the Mixed Armistice Commission, and end any and all hostilities. 

The General Armistice Agreement as stated remains legally binding to both parties and with the possible exception of the military presence in the border zones, remains valid as an transitional process from war to peace. The Agreement stipulates the end of all hostilities from any party across the border and establishing a mixed Armistice Commission to resolve the two country's disputes. 

In this light, any call for unconditional withdrawal without Lebanese Armed Forces guarantees that South Lebanon would not be used to launch attacks on Israel fails to muster international support. Also, the continued operations of the so-called "Resistance" through UNIFIL areas and beyond the control of the Lebanese Government is a clear violation of U.N. Resolutions and provides Israel with international legal justification to maintain its forces in South Lebanon, thus prolonging the suffering of Southern Lebanese. 

In spite of the standstill resulting from Israel and the "Resistance" using each other as justification for their own existence, their is a single point of convergence between Lebanon, Israel and the U.N. Returning South Lebanon to the Sole and exclusive authority of the Lebanese Army. In this regard bringing the areas north of the "Security Zone" under Lebanese Government control and ending the military operations across the UNIFIL zone, would fulfill the U.N. stipulation, the Israeli condition for withdrawal and the Lebanese Government objectives, serving as the logical fist step for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. 

We understand that many elements of the "Resistance" have no interest in Lebanese Authority in the South and thus would oppose such a step. However from a Lebanese national perspective and in the interest of international peace the return of law and order to South Lebanon is a must for the future of Lebanon and the region. By proving its ability to control activity within its areas, the Lebanese Government would be able to bring the international community to bare on Israel to withdraw by depriving it from the "Security concerns" justification it presently enjoys. 

Ziad Nassar

President