United Nations Security Council Resolution 1680
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1680, adopted on May 17, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions on Lebanon
, including 425
(1978), 426
(1978), 520
(1982), 1559
(2004) and 1655
(2005), the Council strongly encouraged Syria
to respond positively to Lebanon's request to delineate borders and establish diplomatic relations, with the purpose of asserting Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.
The resolution, co-sponsored by France
, the United Kingdom
and the United States
, was adopted by a vote of 13 in favour, none against, and two abstention
s from China
and Russia
; both countries believed the resolution constituted interference in the diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria.
transmitted his third semi-annual report on the implementation of Resolution 1559, adopted on September 2, 2004. Resolution 1559
called for "the withdrawal of all remaining foreign forces from Lebanon; the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias; the extension of the control of the Lebanese Government over all Lebanese territory; and strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Lebanese Government throughout Lebanon."
The Secretary-General's report stated that many of the provisions listed in Resolution 1559, the 1989 Taif Agreement
, and the lack of political stability, that Lebanon was still in a fragile and vulnerable state. This led to the adoption of the supporting resolution, 1680.
, sovereignty
and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognised borders. Furthermore, it noted that positive progress made through national dialogue, though regretted that some provisions of Resolution 1559 had not yet been fully implemented, namely the disbanding and disarming of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militia
s, the extension of the control of the Lebanese government over all its territory, the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon, and free and fair presidential elections
conducted according to the Lebanese constitutional rules, without foreign interference.
The text of the resolution expressed concern that the Secretary-General reported a movement of arms into Lebanese territory for militias over the past six months. It expressed full support for the national dialogue and commended all Lebanese parties for their conduct.
The resolution praised Lebanon for undertaking measures against the movements of arms and militia into Lebanese territory and called on Syria to adopt similar measures. Finally, it welcomed the decision of the Lebanese national dialogue to disarm Palestinian militias outside refugee camp
s within six months.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1680, adopted on May 17, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions on Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, including 425
United Nations Security Council Resolution 425
United Nations Security Council Resolution 425, adopted on March 19, 1978, five days after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, called on Israel to withdraw immediately its forces from Lebanon and established the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon...
(1978), 426
United Nations Security Council Resolution 426
United Nations Security Council Resolution 426, adopted on March 19, 1978, written the same day as resolution 425, approved of the Secretary-General's report on its implementation and in-turn established the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for 6 months, to continue operation thereafter if...
(1978), 520
United Nations Security Council Resolution 520
United Nations Security Council Resolution 520, adopted unanimously on September 17, 1982, after the assassination of Lebanese President Bashir Gemayel and reaffriming resolutions 508 , 509 and 516 , the Council demanded that Israel withdraw immediately from Lebanon, and that Lebanese sovereignty...
(1982), 1559
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, adopted on September 2, 2004, after recalling resolutions 425 , 426 , 520 and 1553 on the situation in Lebanon, the Council supported free and fair presidential elections in Lebanon and called upon remaining foreign forces to withdraw from the...
(2004) and 1655
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1655
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1655, adopted unanimously on January 31, 2006, after recalling previous resolutions on Israel and Lebanon, including resolutions 425 , 426 and 1614 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon for a further six months...
(2005), the Council strongly encouraged Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
to respond positively to Lebanon's request to delineate borders and establish diplomatic relations, with the purpose of asserting Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence.
The resolution, co-sponsored by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was adopted by a vote of 13 in favour, none against, and two abstention
Abstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by...
s from China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
; both countries believed the resolution constituted interference in the diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria.
Background
On April 18, 2006, the Secretary-General Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
transmitted his third semi-annual report on the implementation of Resolution 1559, adopted on September 2, 2004. Resolution 1559
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, adopted on September 2, 2004, after recalling resolutions 425 , 426 , 520 and 1553 on the situation in Lebanon, the Council supported free and fair presidential elections in Lebanon and called upon remaining foreign forces to withdraw from the...
called for "the withdrawal of all remaining foreign forces from Lebanon; the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias; the extension of the control of the Lebanese Government over all Lebanese territory; and strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Lebanese Government throughout Lebanon."
The Secretary-General's report stated that many of the provisions listed in Resolution 1559, the 1989 Taif Agreement
Taif Agreement
The Taif Agreement was an agreement reached to provide "the basis for the ending of the civil war and the return to political normalcy in Lebanon." Negotiated in Taif, Saudi Arabia, it was designed to end the decades-long Lebanese civil war, politically accommodate the demographic...
, and the lack of political stability, that Lebanon was still in a fragile and vulnerable state. This led to the adoption of the supporting resolution, 1680.
Observations
The Security Council began by reiterating its support for the territorial integrityTerritorial integrity
Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that nation-states should not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in other nation-states...
, sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognised borders. Furthermore, it noted that positive progress made through national dialogue, though regretted that some provisions of Resolution 1559 had not yet been fully implemented, namely the disbanding and disarming of Lebanese and non-Lebanese militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s, the extension of the control of the Lebanese government over all its territory, the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon, and free and fair presidential elections
Elections in Lebanon
Elections in Lebanon gives information on election and election results in Lebanon.- Parliamentary electoral system :Lebanon's national legislature is called the Assembly of Representatives...
conducted according to the Lebanese constitutional rules, without foreign interference.
The text of the resolution expressed concern that the Secretary-General reported a movement of arms into Lebanese territory for militias over the past six months. It expressed full support for the national dialogue and commended all Lebanese parties for their conduct.
Acts
The Security Council called for the full implementation of Resolution 1559, calling on all states and parties to co-operate full with the Lebanese government, Security Council and Secretary-General. It encouraged the Syrian government to respond positively to the request made Lebanon to delineate their common border (particularly in disputed areas), while noting that such measures would constitute a step towards improving relations between the two countries as well as asserting Lebanon's independence, which in turn would contribute positively to the stability in the region.The resolution praised Lebanon for undertaking measures against the movements of arms and militia into Lebanese territory and called on Syria to adopt similar measures. Finally, it welcomed the decision of the Lebanese national dialogue to disarm Palestinian militias outside refugee camp
Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees. Hundreds of thousands of people may live in any one single camp. Usually they are built and run by a government, the United Nations, or international organizations, or NGOs.Refugee camps are generally set up in an impromptu...
s within six months.
See also
- 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict2006 Israel-Lebanon conflictThe 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War #Other uses|Tammūz]]) and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War , was a 34-day military conflict in Lebanon, northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. The principal parties were Hezbollah...
- Assassination of Rafic HaririAssassination of Rafic HaririOn 14 February 2005, Rafic Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, was killed, along with 77 others, when explosives equivalent of around 1,000 kg of TNT were detonated as his motorcade drove near the St. George Hotel in Beirut. Among the dead were several of Hariri's bodyguards and his friend...
- Ceasefire attempts during the 2006 Lebanon War
- Lebanon–Syria relations
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1601 to 1700 (2005 – 2006)
- Special Tribunal for LebanonSpecial Tribunal for LebanonThe Special Tribunal for Lebanon is an international tribunal for the prosecution under Lebanese law of those responsible for the assassination of Rafic Hariri on February 14, 2005. The tribunal also has jurisdiction over a series of other attacks in Lebanon if they are proven to be connected...
- United Nations International Independent Investigation CommissionUnited Nations International Independent Investigation CommissionThe United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission was established in April 2005 by Security Council Resolution 1595 to investigate the assassination of Rafic Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon on 14 February 2005....