U.S. to push for Hizbullah disarmament
Washington, Paris mulling draft UN resolution calling on Lebanon to comply with Resolution 1559 and disarm Hizbullah
(Washington) U.S. intensifying diplomatic efforts to have Hizbullah disarmed: The United States is set on Monday to present to the United Nations Security Council a draft resolution calling on Lebanon to implement a past resolution demanding Hizbullah and other militias be disarmed.
Issued on September 2, 2004, resolution 1559 calls for the disarmament of armed groups, namely the Hizbullah and Palestinian armed factions.
The move comes in light of the Lebanese government’s failure to implement the resolution after the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country in April 2005, under a clause in resolution 1559, which also demanded all foreign troops leave Lebanon.
U.S. and French diplomats are reportedly penning the new resolution.
The move comes days after the January, 17, visit to Beirut by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, who reported to Washington the readiness of the Lebanese government to comply with the demands of the international community.
The disarmament of Hizbullah will allow the Lebanese Army to control south Lebanon, an area from which the Shiite group and Palestinian terror organizations occasionally launch rocket and other attacks at Israel.
