United States Ready To Vote on Mideast Resolution
France, United States present text to Security Council
United Nations -- The United States is prepared to vote quickly on a draft resolution to end the hostilities in Lebanon presented to the Security Council, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said August 5.
The text of the resolution worked out by the United States and France "begins the process of putting in place the foundation for a lasting solution to the problem. Obviously this resolution alone isn't that solution, but it is the beginning," Bolton told journalists before a closed Security Council meeting to review the text.
The objective of the resolution, he said, "is to bring a lasting solution as quickly as possible."
The U.S. ambassador said that the resolution is the result of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to the region at the end of July and is built on the work she accomplished there.
The United States and France have been working intensely on the details of the resolution, which is viewed as a common approach to ending the fighting and laying the groundwork for a permanent cease-fire and a long-term solution to the crisis.
Both the United States and France "had the same strategic objectives" but different approaches, Bolton said, calling the draft resolution "a fusion text."
"We want this to be a transformational solution that moves the region beyond the status quo," he said.
French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said that with the presentation of the text will come "a diplomatic campaign to help the parties support and agree in principle" to the resolution. "This is a unique opportunity for the people of Lebanon and the people of Israel," he said.
Although it is unclear how long the other members of the 15-nation council will take to review the text, de la Sabliere said "the sooner the better" for a vote.
The resolution sets out the sequence of events beginning with cessation of hostilities and moving to an agreement in principle by the parties for a lasting solution, followed by the deployment of a U.N.-mandated force to support the Lebanese armed forces. A second resolution would be needed for the force's deployment, but the current resolution stipulates that the force would be set up under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which allows the peacekeepers to use force to carry out the mandate.
The text calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon "immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive" ground, naval and air operations.
It also calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a permanent cease-fire and agree on a long-term solution based on seven elements, including strict respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Israel and Lebanon; full respect by both sides of the so-called Blue Line that delineates the Israeli-Lebanese border; and 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 Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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