Doha Agreement - International Support For The Doha Agreement

International Support For The Doha Agreement

The UN Security Council welcomed the deal reached by Lebanon's majority and opposition blocs to end an 18-month political standoff and elect a new president.

The UN “welcomes and strongly supports the agreement reached by Lebanese leaders in Doha on May 21..., which constitutes an essential step towards the resolution of the current crisis... and the complete restoration of Lebanon's unity, stability and independence.”

In a non-binding statement adopted by all its 15 members, the council also “welcomes the agreement to ban the use of weapons and violence as a means to settle disputes, irrespective of their nature and under any circumstances.”

It hailed the agreement between the western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition, backed by Syria and Iran, to elect a new president, establish a national-unity cabinet and address Lebanon's electoral law. The council reaffirmed “its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, unity and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders and under the sole and exclusive authority of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory.”

The statement also recalled previous Security Council resolutions calling for the dismantling and the disarming of all Lebanese and foreign militias.

Individual countries also supported the agreement:

• The agreement was welcomed by France, with President Nicolas Sarkozy saying that it was "great success for Lebanon and all the Lebanese, whose courage and patience never failed despite the ordeals they have been through." French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said though the agreement failed to tackle the root of the political crisis, yet was a first step. "It goes in the right direction, but none of the essence (of the crisis) appears to have been resolved. Yet, it is better to have a president and a (functioning) government," he said. France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert, for his part, saw the deal as “a foundation upon which Lebanon and its national unity can be rebuilt and its sovereignty as well as territorial integrity reinforced.”
• Germany welcomed the agreement.
• Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson welcomed the agreement and said “Iran hopes the Doha agreement will give the Lebanese a bright future.”
• Saudi Arabia supported the agreement and its ambassador to Lebanon said "Saudi Arabia announces its support for the agreement. We are very happy that this accord has been reached.”
• Syria welcomed the agreement.
• The United States praised the agreement. "The United States welcomes the agreement reached by Lebanese leaders in Doha, Qatar. We view this agreement as a positive step towards resolving the current crisis by electing a President, forming a new government, and addressing Lebanon’s electoral law, consistent with the Arab League initiative. The United States supports the government of Lebanon and its complete authority over the entire territory of the country," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters. The United states's President George Bush released a statement saying he hoped the new agreement would “usher in an era of political reconciliation to the benefit of all Lebanese.”
• Britain's UN Ambassador John Sawers, the council chair this month, expressed hope that the Doha deal “will bring to an end a dispute that has being going on for far too long.” He also hoped that “in the coming days, we will see implementation of this agreement and that the painstaking process of rebuilding Lebanese unity can begin.”