State's Welch Offers Cautious Optimism on Lebanon Ceasefire
13 September 2006
Says "substantial tools" available to achieve a permanent, sustainable cease-fire
Washington -- In what he characterized as “a summer of stress and hardship,” Assistant Secretary of State C. David Welch told U.S. senators he sees U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 as a vital tool for permanently stabilizing Lebanon.
“What was needed here was not a precipitate rush to a cease-fire, but an effort to build a cease-fire on a more permanent and sustainable basis,” one that would prevent a return to conditions that allowed the outbreak of hostilities in the first place. “One can’t be complacent and allow this to recur,” Welch said during his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee September 13 during a hearing on securing a permanent cease-fire in Lebanon.
The provisions of Resolution 1701 open up an unprecedented opportunity, he said, with new, “substantial tools.” The arms embargo against unauthorized groups in Lebanon, the creation of a strong international force to support the Lebanese army in its deployment throughout the country, and other mechanisms to help the Lebanese government establish sovereignty are significant measures that will contribute to sustained peace, Welch said.
“These new rules would change the situation in Lebanon and in the region … significantly for the better and would more than meet our standard of ‘no return to the status quo ante,’” he said.
Of the enhanced United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Welch said: “The new UNIFIL is nothing like the old UNIFIL. It has a completely new concept of operations and rules of engagement.” This includes armed troops, combat battalions from NATO members and a maritime surveillance role for NATO-affiliated navies. It is the first time UNIFIL has a maritime mission, and the lack of it in the past left Lebanon’s coastline unprotected and vulnerable to smuggling of weapons to unauthorized militias.
He said there are about 9,000 troop commitments with more commitments expected. “Over 3,000 fresh troops are on the ground, and more arriving every day,” he said. A robust force is required to make the land border secure, help enforce the arms embargo and assist in disarming militias, particularly Hezbollah.
“[T]he international response so far to the needs of Lebanon has been impressive,” he said. “It’s necessary to distinguish between what has been delivered and what has been promised, and to emphasize the urgency of delivering on the promise,” he said, adding that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is trying “to show some delivery.”
Welch said nearly $60 million of the promised $230 million in aid pledged by the United States has been spent on humanitarian aid. In response to a question by Senator Chuck Hegel, he said about $40 million is earmarked for security assistance. The Lebanese army is U.S.-equipped, and there are plans for training and assistance to internal security forces. Other funds will be used for repair of destroyed bridges, schools, homes and other infrastructure. The United States is helping to clean up the oil spill that occurred during the conflict and plans “to help the fishermen who were affected by the incident.” Funds also are going toward removal of unexploded ordnance.
Welch praised the government of Lebanon in its effort to change the balance of authority and power in the country: “[T]he government led by Fuad Siniora, beset with as many difficulties as it was before, during and after this crisis, has done a truly remarkable job in addressing it.”
In response to questions about the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Welch said the United States has been working to relax movement and access restrictions placed by Israel in and around Gaza and has succeeded in getting Israel to allow humanitarian aid shipments. He reiterated the U.S. commitment to the peace process. “We would like to see conversations, even negotiations, restart between Israel and the legitimate part of the [Palestinian Authority] just as soon as possible.”
Acknowledging the difficulty of peacekeeping inherent in the region, he maintained that with international cooperation and persistence, stable peace in Lebanon is possible. “We will continue our effort to support moderate governments, like that of Lebanon, which has been democratically elected, in order to help meet the needs of the Lebanese people and allow their freedom to take real root inside this country,” Welch said.
The full text of Welch’s prepared remarks is available on the committee’s Web site.
For additional information, see Lebanon Assistance.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
