• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

11 January 2006

Rice Calls on Syria To Comply with U.N. Security Council Demands

Seeks Syrian cooperation with Hariri investigation, disarmament of Hizballah

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Syria to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions that it cooperate with the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and end its support of armed militias and terrorist groups inside Lebanon.

“Syria must cease obstructing the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri and instead cooperate fully and unconditionally, as required by U.N. Security Council resolutions,” she said in a January 11 statement.  “We intend to refer this matter back to the Security Council if Syrian obstruction continues.”

She also called on Syria to comply fully with the requirements of Resolution 1559, which included the disarmament and disbanding of Hizballah and other militias.  (See related article.)

“Syria's continuing provision of arms and other support to Hizballah and Palestinian terrorist groups serves to destabilize Lebanon, makes possible terrorist attacks within Lebanon, from Lebanese territory, and impedes the full implementation of Security Council resolutions,” she said.

The secretary called on Syria to put an end to all of its interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon.

Following is the text of Rice’s statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 11, 2006

STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE

Syria's Continuing Refusal to Comply with Security Council Resolutions

The United States has grave and continuing concerns about Syria's destabilizing behavior and sponsorship of terrorism.  The Syrian regime is obligated to implement UN Security Council resolutions 1546, 1559, 1595, 1636, and 1644.  It has failed to do so.

Syria must cease obstructing the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri and instead cooperate fully and unconditionally, as required by UN Security Council resolutions.  We call upon the Syrian regime to respond positively to the requests of UN Independent International Investigation (UNIIIC). We intend to refer this matter back to the Security Council if Syrian obstruction continues.

The United States stands firmly with the people of Lebanon in rejecting any deals or compromises that would undermine the UNIIC investigation, or relieve Syria of its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions.  We are firmly committed to seeking justice and pursuing the investigation to its ultimate conclusion.

The United States also calls for the full implementation of all parts of UN Security Council resolution 1559, including the disarmament and disbanding of Hizballah and other militias.  Syria's continuing provision of arms and other support to Hizballah and Palestinian terrorist groups serves to destabilize Lebanon, makes possible terrorist attacks within Lebanon, from Lebanese territory, and impedes the full implementation of Security Council resolutions.

As Resolution 1559 demands, Syria must once and for all end its interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon.  Continuing assassinations in Lebanon of opponents of Syrian domination, including most recently the murder of journalist and Member of Parliament Gebran Tueni on December 12, 2005, create an atmosphere of fear that Syria uses to intimidate Lebanon.  Syria must cease this intimidation and immediately come into compliance with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)