The U.N. Security Council on Monday urged Lebanon to fully implement Resolution 1559, including disarming Hezbollah and other militias and holding new presidential elections. There should be strict respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence of Lebanon, and free and fair presidential elections conducted according to the Lebanese constitutional rules, without any foreign interference and influence, said Japanese Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, the current council president for October. During the closed-door briefing, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton praised Lebanon for positive advances, but noted, we continued to be concerned that Syria and Iran are actively trying to destabilize the democratically-elected government of Lebanon, according to remarks obtained by S.P.A. We call on Syria and Iran to abide by their obligations to respect Lebanon s sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence, added Bolton. Bolton noted that Syria made promises to abide by U.N. resolutions, including an arms embargo that was established by council resolution 1701. Lebanese civilians will only have lasting security when Hezbollah and other militias are disarmed and the democratically-elected Lebanese Government fully expands its sovereignty over all of Lebanon, he said. Syria pulled out of Lebanon after U.N. Resolution 1559 demanded that Syria withdraw military and intelligence personnel from the country.
