U.N. Concerned About Hizbullah Activities Outside Lebanon, Says Group”s Arsenal is Threat to Regional Stability
U.N. Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen said that over the last few weeks there has been growing concern about Hizbullah activities beyond Lebanese territory, adding that the party”s arsenal is a threat to regional stability.
He told the Security Council on Thursday that U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has been informed by the Egyptian government that a cell led by a Lebanese member of Hizbullah was uncovered in Egypt. The Egyptian government informed the U.N. that the issue is now in the hands of the judiciary.
"In a televised speech on 29 April, the Secretary-General of Hizbullah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, rejected the Egyptian authorities” accusations. The secretary-general had expressed concern over the Hizbullah leaders” statements and had condemned such unwarranted interference in the domestic affairs of a member state," Roed-Larsen said in his briefing.
"Equally alarming was the fact that Hizbullah had publicly admitted to providing support to Gaza-based militants from Egyptian territory," he added.
Ban”s special envoy for the implementation of resolution 1559 said he remained concerned by occasional security incidents in recent months, some of which have led to casualties.
"These occurrences highlight the proliferation of weapons and armed groups that continue to operate in Lebanon and whose existence is an ongoing violation of resolution 1559," he stated. "These are direct threats to the stability of the country and the region as a whole."
Resolution 1559 was adopted in 2004. It calls for free and fair elections, an end to foreign interference and the disbanding of all militias.
He stressed in particular that the disbanding and disarming of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias is a necessary element to the complete consolidation of Lebanon as a sovereign and democratic state.
"The most significant remaining Lebanese militia is the armed component of Hizbullah," Ban”s special envoy noted, adding that the group continues to maintain a significant paramilitary capacity and infrastructure separate from the state, in violation of resolution 1559. "This arsenal is a direct challenge to the sovereignty of the Lebanese state and a threat to regional stability."
Also, over the last few weeks, Lebanese authorities have arrested a series of individuals on suspicion of spying for Israel, Roed-Larsen told the council, adding that if these allegations prove true, they would constitute a serious violation of Lebanon”s sovereignty.
The special envoy also said that the June 7 parliamentary elections will constitute a "new milestone" in Lebanon”s momentous transition, and said it is heartening that Lebanese leaders have committed themselves to a free and fair election devoid of violence and inflammatory rhetoric.
Terje Roed-Larsen told the council that the situation in Lebanon has improved "markedly" since last May, when an accord reached in Doha helped end the country”s political crisis by paving the way for the election of a new president and the establishment of a national unity cabinet.
"The general improvement of the situation in the country combined with reconciliation efforts in the region has created a favorable environment to strengthen Lebanon”s sovereignty, political independence and government control throughout the country," said Roed-Larsen.
He noted that since the adoption of resolution 1559, several of its provisions have now been implemented. Presidential elections took place in May 2008; Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon in April 2005; and the two neighbors have established diplomatic relations and engaged in high-level talks on relevant matters.