Israel Matzav

Kofi Annan: Dismantle Hezbullah

The call is not surprising - it's source is. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for dismantling Hezbullah and setting a border between Syria and Lebanon as a result of a United Nations report that indicates that Iran and Syria are continuing their involvement in Lebanon's internal affairs through Hezbullah.

Annan's call came after he was presented with the third biannual report regarding the implementation of U.N. Resolution 1559 on the withdrawal of foreign forces and dismantlement of armed militias in Lebanon.

The report charges Iran and Syria are continuing their involvement in Lebanon and preventing the dismantlement of armed militias, topped by the Hizbullah. Special U.N. envoy Terje Larsen ruled that cooperation by all sides involved in the matter, "including Syria and Iran," is essential.

Resolution 1559 was implemented in part after Syrian forces left Lebanon. Now, Larsen is pressing for the implementation of the resolution's second part, which calls for the dismantlement of armed groups.

...

According to the report, Hizbullah maintains close ties and holds regular contacts with both Syria and Iran, in contradiction of the Security Council's decision. A year and a half after the resolution was passed, no observable change regarding Hizbullah's operational capabilities and actions has taken place, the report says.

Larsen also says that Hizbullah continues to control southern Lebanon and that weapons, including Katyusha rockets, continue to flow into the area through Syria. According to Larsen, Lebanese military officials told him there are no operational constraints preventing the deployment of the Lebanese army along the border with Israel, but added that no political order to that effect was received.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:36 AM