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Lebanon: Seventh semi-annual report of UN SG on the implementation of UN SC resolution 1559 (2004) (S/2008/264)

Attachments

I. Background

1. Over the past six months, Lebanon has continued to experience a severe political crisis, currently centred on the failure to elect a President of the Republic. The position has remained vacant since 24 November 2007, when the extended term of President Emile Lahoud ended. Despite the energetic and sustained efforts of Lebanese, regional and international players, all attempts to elect a new President have been fruitless. The electoral void has fuelled political polarization and impeded the normal functioning of the legitimate constitutional institutions of the country, in particular the Government and the Parliament. It has also contributed, at times, to violent confrontations between the opposing parties, leading to casualties. The absence of an agreement on the presidential election threatens the very foundations of the Lebanese State, and the sovereignty, independence and stability of Lebanon. The country currently confronts challenges of a magnitude unseen since the end of the civil war, with possible regional repercussions.

2. The series of terrorist attacks and assassinations that have shaken the country since October 2004, targeting symbols of Lebanon's sovereignty, have continued unabated. On 12 December 2007, an explosion killed Major General François el-Hajj, head of the operations of the Lebanese Armed Forces, together with his driver, and injured nine others. On 25 January 2008, Major Wissam Eid, head of the technical section of the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces, was killed along with five others and 20 people were injured.

3. On 8 January 2008, troops of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were attacked for the third time since the war of July/August 2006, outside the area of operation. On 15 January, an explosion apparently targeted a vehicle of the Embassy of the United States of America, leaving three people dead and wounding dozens. This was the first attack on a diplomatic target in Beirut since the days of the civil war. The climate of insecurity has induced several countries to issue travel warnings to Lebanon and to reduce the staff of their Embassies in the country.

4. Late in January, demonstrations held to protest against ongoing power cuts in the southern suburbs of Beirut turned violent. Eight people were killed and about 22 others wounded in Beirut. Those riots were perceived as the worst violence the country had witnessed since 2007, when clashes erupted between supporters of the ruling 14 March coalition and others from the opposition camp, claiming the lives of five people at the Beirut Arab University. Lebanese leaders from across the political spectrum appealed for restraint and demanded that their followers withdraw from the streets. The Lebanese army is investigating those clashes. So far, 6 army personnel and 11 civilians have been arrested.

5. During the night of 12 to 13 February 2008 a car exploded in the Kfar Susseh neighbourhood of Damascus. The blast killed Imad Moughniyeh, a senior commander of Hizbullah, and his bodyguard.

6. On 14 February, with a massive rally, the Lebanese marked the third anniversary of the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri. On the same day, another gathering was held in southern Beirut on the occasion of the funeral of Imad Moughniyeh.

7. On 29 and 30 March, an Arab League summit was held in Damascus, in a tense atmosphere, as Lebanon remained in the grip of an intense political crisis and still had not elected a President. In their final communiqué, the Arab leaders restated their commitment to the Arab League plan for Lebanon, including the immediate election of a President.

8. The protests in front of the Prime Minister's office that started in December 2006 and which have disrupted regular political life in Lebanon and substantially affected the regular economic activity of the centre of Beirut have continued.

II. Implementation of resolution 1559 (2004)

9. During the reporting period, the Government of Lebanon continued to express its strong commitment to making progress in extending its authority over all of the Lebanese territory and in asserting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence on the country. The failure to elect a President of the Republic in a free and fair electoral process, without foreign interference, polarized the situation in Lebanon, however, and constituted a significant obstacle to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559 (2004). Resolution 1559 (2004) thus remains to be implemented in full. 10. Over the past six months, my representatives and I have remained in regular and close contact with all parties in Lebanon, as well as with relevant regional and international players.

A. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon

11. In my earlier reports, I stated that the Security Council in resolution 1559 (2004) placed central emphasis on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon throughout Lebanon, and that I assigned this matter the highest priority in my efforts to assist with the implementation of the resolution.

12. I wish to recall that significant steps have already been taken towards the implementation of the resolution. In my second semi-annual report, of 26 October 2005 (S/2005/673), I was able to certify that free and credible parliamentary elections had been held early in 2005. I was also able to confirm the withdrawal of Syrian troops, military assets and the military intelligence apparatus from Lebanon.