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Last update - 06:22 16/04/2008
UN calls for disarming of Hezbollah, Israel-Lebanon solution
By The Associated Press
Tags: Hezbollah, Israel 

The UN Security Council called Tuesday for the disarming of Hezbollah and all other militias in Lebanon and greater progress toward a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

A statement adopted by consensus by the 15-member council reiterates its commitment to the full implementation of all provisions of Resolution 1701 which ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in August 2006.

That resolution reiterates a call for the disarming of all militias and bans arms transfers to them. It calls on the government to secure its borders and entry points to prevent the entry into Lebanon without its consent of arms or related materiel.
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It also calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution based on full respect for the UN-drawn Blue Line along their border, security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, and the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon so there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese state.

The statement adopted Tuesday took note of the progress and concerns expressed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his latest report on implementation of the resolution and emphasize the need for greater progress on all the key issues required for a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution.

It also called on all concerned parties, in particular in the region, to intensify their efforts in implementing resolution 1701, including by fully cooperating with the secretary-general in this regard.

In his last report in March, Ban noted that Israel says Hezbollah is rearming and has an arsenal that includes 10,000 long-range rockets and 20,000 short-range rockets in southern Lebanon.

The report did not confirm Israel's claim, but Ban reiterated his concern about Hezbollah's public statements and persistent reports pointing to breaches of a UN arms embargo. He also expressed concern at the threats of open war against Israel by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Ban also expressed regret that the persistent deterioration of the political climate and the prolonged deadlock over the election of a new Lebanese president - which remains unresolved today - have made it impossible to deal with the disarmament issue.

In a report in late October, Ban drew attention to alleged breaches of the arms embargo and the transfer of sophisticated weapons from Iran and Syria - both strong backers of Hezbollah - across the Lebanon-Syria border. Syria disputed the claim.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said negotiations on the good, acceptable statement took time because it involved different countries inside and outside the Security Council.

"With regard to the implementation, I think there are pluses and minuses there," he said. "We would like to see more progress on disarming militias."

France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said: "We are very satisfied by the fact that the Security Council was in a position to adopt unanimously a presidential statement to the end of supporting Resolution 1701 implementation."

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      1.   AND RETURN THE KIDNAPPED SOLDIERS! 04:44  |  Levi 16/04/08
      2.   Get real!!!! Serioiusly 05:43  |  Espart 16/04/08
      3.   The mice resolved to bell the cat 06:38  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      4.   UN supports International Law to protect Israel 07:00  |  Reid 16/04/08
      5.   a very wise move by the UNSC 07:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/04/08
      6.   Israel Haters, Clear enough for you? 07:28  |  Dan 16/04/08
      7.   Israel has been defying UN for ages.. 07:32  |  Lebanese 16/04/08
      8.   Espart, learn to read seriously! 07:35  |  Dan 16/04/08
      9.   Espart, learn how to read!!! Seriously 07:37  |  Dan 16/04/08
      10.   Espart#2 - only agressors need to be disarmed 08:01  |  William 16/04/08
      11.   Inference of the last war in Lebanon. 08:22  |  Jean Van Daem 16/04/08
      12.   Anyone pro-Hizbullah is against Lebanon`s best interests 08:24  |  x-ray 16/04/08
      13.   #2 Espart 08:42  |  geoff 16/04/08
      14.   x-ray - This ones for you 10:29  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      15.   To Dan # 6 10:39  |  wally 16/04/08
      16.   UNSC # 242 CAME FIRST OR UNSC # 1701 10:44  |  indrajaya 16/04/08
      17.   That mice is at it again in # 3 10:48  |  Antonietta 16/04/08
      18.   Free Lebanon 10:53  |  Uzi 16/04/08
      19.   The other news item on Haaretz today. 10:53  |  Maureen Ann 16/04/08
      20.   Espart and typical inane comments 11:09  |  dovvod 16/04/08
      21.   LEBANON thumbs their noses at the Sec.Council.The lynch mob 11:17  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      22.   disarming would bring death to the lebanese 11:25  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      23.   Response To No. 7 - Lebanese 11:28  |  Khaled (Also Leb) 16/04/08
      24.   Dear UN, go back to sleep. 11:43  |  Just Believer 16/04/08
      25.   #13 Geoff and his "realism" 11:48  |  Johnboy 16/04/08
      26.   UN haters and lovers 11:51  |  Said 16/04/08
      27.   #1, LEVI, a hypcocrite 11:52  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      28.   #14, KHALED, a fake lebanese or a druze 11:57  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      29.   #13, GEOFF, get a brain 12:01  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      30.   INDRAJAYA UNSCR 242 DEMANDED CESSATION OF PAL TERROR 12:11  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      31.   Antonietta 12:11  |  Natallie Durson 16/04/08
      32.   VIPER the israel/Lebanese border was the quitest of the lot. 12:15  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      33.   Anything Else? 13:09  |  Ahmed 16/04/08
      34.   # 30, PETER SM 13:15  |  indrajaya 16/04/08
      35.   Disarm Hezbolah? 13:33  |  Jim 16/04/08
      36.   catch 22 13:39  |  Gaston 16/04/08
      37.   # 31 N Durson 13:42  |  Antonietta 16/04/08
      38.   #5 Cipora Julianna Kohn 13:48  |  Jim 16/04/08
      39.   UN haters and lovers 13:48  |  Steve 16/04/08
      40.   viper 13:51  |  Steve 16/04/08
      41.   Why not disarm Israel at the same time? 13:55  |  El-Birawi 16/04/08
      42.   #11 Jean Van Daem 14:05  |  Jim 16/04/08
      43.   #30 Where, PETER SM???? 14:07  |  Johnboy 16/04/08
      44.   i guess Lebanon can think of 1701 when israel complies with all 14:07  |  lakshmi 16/04/08
      45.   #40, STEVE, whoooooahhh 14:11  |  VIPER 16/04/08
      46.   #32 No, that would be Syria, PETER SM 14:18  |  Johnboy 16/04/08
      47.   INDRAJAYA UNSCR 242 "peace guarantees from the Arab parties" 14:22  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      48.   May The Lord Make Israel Victorious! 14:22  |  Khaled 16/04/08
      49.   EL BIRAWI nobody said disarm Lebanon.Is Hesbala synomous 14:24  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      50.   DISARM WHO? 14:24  |  ADAM 16/04/08
      51.   7# Lebanese It means alot 14:46  |  Alon 16/04/08
      52.   27# Viper a fake peacelover 14:48  |  Alon 16/04/08
      53.   23# long live Lebanon & Israel 14:50  |  alon 16/04/08
      54.   I guess you can think of the 44 bus accident victims 14:52  |  Alon 16/04/08
      55.   Lakshmi and co 14:55  |  Alon 16/04/08
      56.   Viper 1 of 2 14:57  |  Steve 16/04/08
      57.   50# Nigerian connection 15:03  |  Sibusiso 16/04/08
      58.   You might as well demand the U-Arab-N to become Buddhists 15:05  |  steve from raleigh 16/04/08
      59.   # 33 Ahmed...No, no ,no, Lebanon has a 15:20  |  Lynn 16/04/08
      60.   #16: indrajaya 242 came first and has been complied with 15:22  |  Doc Holliday 16/04/08
      61.   To N. Durson, indrajava and others like them who pretend to know 15:22  |  Vladio 16/04/08
      62.   Johnboy...Lebanese Army got some equipment 15:41  |  Lynn 16/04/08
      63.   #47 Gosh! PETER SM writes his very own copy of Res 242 15:48  |  Johnboy 16/04/08
      64.   #60 Doc Holliday attempts a joke! 15:57  |  Johnboy 16/04/08
      65.   Israel`s Snubbing the UN on Resolution 242 16:02  |  Yaakov Sullivan 16/04/08
      66.   JOHNBOY ALL States of Belligerency& right to live in peace 16:06  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      67.   Lynn #62 LOL. What foreigners-in whose pay? 16:16  |  examiner 16/04/08
      68.   SULLIVAN The point is Arabs are not the peace loving angels 16:23  |  PETER SM 16/04/08
      69.   Positive resolutin 16:27  |  Sarah 16/04/08
      70.   Lynn #62 LOL. What foreigners-in whose pay? 16:37  |  examiner 16/04/08
      71.   #66 PETER SM goes into a cut-n-paste frenzy 16:37  |  Johnboy 16/04/08