Resolution 1553
(July 29, 2004)
The Security Council,
Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon,
in particular resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) of 19 March 1978
and 1525 (2004) of 30 January 2004 as well as the statements of its
President on the situation in Lebanon, in particular the statement of
18 June 2000 (S/PRST/2000/21),
Recalling further the letter from its President to
the Secretary-General of 18 May 2001 (S/2001/500),
Recalling also the Secretary-General's conclusion that,
as of 16 June 2000, Israel had withdrawn its forces from Lebanon in
accordance with resolution 425 (1978) and met the requirements defined
in the Secretary-General's report of 22 May 2000 (S/2000/460), as well
as the Secretary-General's conclusion that the United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had essentially completed two of the three
parts of its mandate, focusing now on the remaining task of restoring
international peace and security,
Emphasizing the interim nature of UNIFIL,
Recalling its resolution 1308 (2000) of 17 July 2000,
Recalling also its resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October
2000,
Recalling further the relevant principles contained
in the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel
adopted on 9 December 1994,
Responding to the request of the Government of Lebanon
to extend the mandate of UNIFIL for a new period of six months presented
in the letter from its Permanent Representative to the United Nations
of 9 July 2004 to the Secretary-General (S/2004/560),
Expressing its concern over the tensions and potential
for escalation as noted in the Secretary-General's report of 21 July
2004 (S/2004/572),
1. Endorses the report of the Secretary-General on
UNIFIL of 21 July 2004 (S/2004/572), and in particular its recommendation
to renew the mandate of UNIFIL for a further period of six months;
2. Decides to extend the present mandate until 31 January
2005;
3. Reiterates its strong support for the territorial
integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within
its internationally recognized boundaries;
4. Encourages the Government of Lebanon to continue
efforts to ensure the return of its effective authority throughout the
south, including the deployment of Lebanese armed forces, stresses the
importance of the Government of Lebanon continuing to extend these measures
and calls on the Government of Lebanon to do its utmost to ensure a
calm environment throughout the south, including along the Blue Line;
5. Calls on the parties to ensure UNIFIL is accorded
full freedom of movement in the discharge of its mandate throughout
its area of operation as outlined in the Secretary-General's report;
6. Reiterates its call on the parties to continue to
fulfil the commitments they have given to respect fully the withdrawal
line identified by the United Nations, as set out in the Secretary-General's
report of 16 June 2000 (S/2000/590), to exercise utmost restraint and
to cooperate fully with the United Nations and UNIFIL;
7. Condemns all acts of violence, expresses great concern
about the serious breaches and the sea, land and continuing air violations
of the withdrawal line, and urges the parties to put an end to these
violations, to refrain from any act or provocation that could further
escalate the tension and to abide scrupulously by the obligation to
respect the safety of the UNIFIL and other United Nations personnel;
8. Supports the continued efforts of UNIFIL to maintain
the ceasefire along the withdrawal line through mobile patrols and observation
from fixed positions and through close contacts with the parties to
correct violations, resolve incidents and prevent their escalation;
9. Welcomes the continued contribution of UNIFIL to
operational demining, applauds the successful completion of Operation
Emirates Solidarity noted by the Secretary-General in his report, encourages
further assistance in mine action by the United Nations to the Government
of Lebanon in support of both the continued development of its national
mine action capacity and emergency demining activities in the south,
commends donor countries for supporting these efforts through financial
and in kind contributions and encourages further international contributions,
takes note of the communication to the Government of Lebanon and UNIFIL
of maps and information on the location of mines and stresses the necessity
to provide the Government of Lebanon and UNIFIL with any additional
maps and records on the location of mines;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue consultations
with the Government of Lebanon and other parties directly concerned
on the implementation of this resolution and to report thereon to the
Council before the end of the present mandate as well as on the activities
of UNIFIL and the tasks presently carried out by the United Nations
Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO);
11. Looks forward to the early fulfilment of the mandate
of UNIFIL;
12. Stresses the importance of, and the need to, achieve
a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on
all its relevant resolutions, including its resolutions 242 (1967) of
22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973.
Sources: The United Nations |