Full text of the
speech delivered by
Prime Minister Salim Hoss
to the 55th General Assembly of the United Nations
on 14/9/2000
Mr. President,
It gives me pleasure to congratulate you on your election as president of the 55th session
of the United Nations General Assembly. I am confident that your vast experience and
unswerving efforts will guarantee that the best results are achieved in this session. I
would also like to thank your predecessor his excellency Mr. Theo Gurirab, minister of
foreign affairs of the Republic of Namibia, for having wisely and successfully conducted
the deliberations of the 54th session of the General Assembly. I should be remiss if I
failed to express to the secretary-general of the United Nations, his excellency Mr. Kofi
Annan, our thanks and appreciation for the efforts he has been making to preserve the
principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, in order to consolidate the
prospects for peace and stability around the world.
Mr. President,
A new century has been ushered in. Our countries’ peoples believe in the United
Nations, and in its ability to embrace a new vision and new concepts. They have high hopes
that a reinvigorated organization will promote a new world order, one forged within the
new forces at play. This will be a world order capable of shoring up the prospects for
international peace and security in different parts of the globe, and meeting the costs of
development to which each and every individual is entitled. This can be done if we succeed
in reactivating the central role of the United Nations. The primary organs of this
organization, namely the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, must be
entrusted with the task of containing and checking the dangers that face humanity and
threaten its social and economic peace and security.
I am pleased to announce that at the end of next year Lebanon will be hosting the
Francophone Summit, the theme of which will be Dialogue Among Civilizations. Lebanese
society’s experience with coexistence, its pluralistic nature, and its openness to
the world are, in our view, the best expressions of this dialogue.
Mr. President,
We all agree that the United Nations is an indispensable international institution,
notwithstanding its inability to settle many disputes since its inception. At times it has
been lax in enforcing its own resolutions. At others it was influenced by the
international balance of power which has blinded it to the double standards at the root of
international relations. But what is indisputable is that the United Nations, its
mandates, and multi-faceted activities around the world constitute a major human
achievement and tradition. We must build upon this achievement by evincing the necessary
will to lead the world towards reconciliation, while striking the necessary balance among
the collective interest of states, large and small. Our actions must be based on the
principles of solidarity, equality, and justice that are enshrined in the UN Charter. This
is of particular importance at this crucial juncture of our human existence. While
vast regions of the world are plagued by poverty, deprivation and disease, others are
enjoying a social and economic boom rarely matched in the history of mankind. It is
therefore particularly important to jump-start the different UN organs, programs and
specialized agencies. They have already impressed us with a daily record of achievement
that stands as a true measure of our collective spirit of solidarity. This solidarity must
be the cornerstone of a new humanitarian world order capable of protecting the
individual and respecting his rights in all their aspects. In the context of this
“new humanitarian world order” we highly value the steps taken to restructure
some of the UN’s development organs. There has been introduced into their programs
the concept of cooperation with the institutions of civil society, as well as with
international financial institutions, the private sector, and the donor community.
Mr. President,
In the second half of May 2000, Lebanon and the United Nations witnessed an historic
event. My country recovered most of its occupied territories in the South and in the
Western Bekaa. Thanks to the resistance and steadfastness of the Lebanese people, and the
support of the international community, Israel had to withdraw from these territories
after a senseless occupation that lasted over 22 years. It left behind a trail of
devastation and destruction to the infrastructure, to private property, and to the
environment, as well as a local economy in a state of collapse. Lebanon has paid dearly
for its liberation. Thousands have fallen as martyrs on the road to victory and thousands
more have been wounded or disabled. Human and material losses were not confined to the
areas under occupation. For 30 years Israeli strikes terrorized our civilian population,
destroyed civilian properties, and wrecked havoc with the sectors of the economy.
The Israeli withdrawal came after 22 years of continued refusal to comply with Security
Council resolutions 425 and 426 (1978) respectively. The two resolutions called upon
Israel to withdraw immediately and unconditionally from southern Lebanon and the Western
Bekaa to the internationally recognized borders with “strict respect for the
territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.” For the
first time since 1978 the United Nations Interim Force to Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been able
to fulfill its mandate under Resolution 425. To do so the UN had to identify a line for
the purpose of confirming the Israeli withdrawal. Regrettably, in three locations this
line does not conform to the internationally recognized boundary line demarcated in 1923
between Palestine and Lebanon under the French and British Mandates. The United Nations
Blue Line also leaves the Shebaa Farms outside UNIFIL’s area of operations in
southern Lebanon.
Lebanon has seriously cooperated with the UN to fulfill the requirements conducive
to the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 425. Despite Israel’s repeated
violations of the withdrawal line and obstructive practices which hindered the deployment
of UNIFIL for weeks, the force was at long last able to deploy, accompanied by the
Lebanese armed forces.
At this juncture it seems fitting to recall Lebanon’s “civilized stance”
and the wisdom and tolerance graciously shown by his valiant people in reaction to the new
situation. The Lebanese people crowned their resistance to the occupation with a victory
which brought about the Israeli withdrawal. Contrary to dire predictions, no mayhem or
acts of vengeance ensued. This has earned us the appreciation and admiration of the
international community. On this occasion allow me to pay tribute to the secretary-general
of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, and to his assistants, and to the officers and
soldiers of UNIFIL for their tireless and unswerving efforts to fulfill their noble
mandate in compliance with legitimate international resolutions. In this context I would
like to underline the importance of the following points. First: Lebanon insists that its
internationally recognized borders are not negotiable. They are the borders demarcated in
accordance with the 1923 Paulet Newcomb maps, and reaffirmed later in the 1949
“Israeli-Lebanese General Armistice Agreement.” Second: Lebanon confirms its
reservations about three locations where the Blue Line has been adopted by the United
Nations as the line of withdrawal. This reservation is included in the report submitted by
the secretary-general to the Security Council on June 16, 2000. Third: Lebanon insists on
its right to sovereignty over the Shebaa Farms, which are an integral part of Lebanese
territory.
Fourth: Lebanon insists on its sovereignty and authority over the locations set by the UN
inside the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) line in the Mount Hermon
area. Fifth: Lebanon demands the immediate release of all Lebanese detainees from
Israeli prisons. They were kept as hostages in violation of the terms of the Fourth Geneva
Convention of 1949, of the relevant protocols, and of The Hague Convention of 1907.
Lebanon believes that the release of the detainees represents the completion of the
Israeli withdrawal and is therefore the fulfillment of Security Council Resolution 425.
Sixth: The liberation of Lebanese territory from Israeli occupation shall remain
compromised unless a just solution is found to the problem of the Palestinian refugees
residing in Lebanon. The solution lies in allowing these refugees to return to their
homeland as provided for in legitimate international resolutions.
Mr. President,
Israel must compensate Lebanon for the human, material and economic losses sustained as a
result of Israeli occupation, and acts of aggression in accordance with
international and customary law, and according to the principles of the UN Charter.
In this regard we recall Security Council Resolution 262 (1968), which recognized that
Lebanon was entitled to appropriate redress for the destruction it had
suffered when Israel attacked Beirut’s International Airport in late 1968. In this
attack Israel destroyed 13 Lebanese airplanes. Finally, the Lebanese believe in their
right to receive adequate and fair reparations for the substantial losses and devastation
inflicted upon them after years of occupation and repeated acts of aggression. Such acts
were perpetuated in a stark defiance of the will of the United Nations since 1978. Lebanon
will therefore resort to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, which is the
proper organ through which to address its claims. We do hope that the court will be able
to endorse our request for adequate reparations, and appeal to the international community
to support our just and fair demands.
Mr. President.
The question of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Lebanon’s liberated territories
is a high priority on the Lebanese agenda. It also enjoys tangible international support.
In this context, I would like to recall the preparatory meeting of donor nations held in
Beirut on July 27, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and
the support of the World Bank and the secretary-general, Mr. Kofi Annan. The meeting was
attended by representatives of 40 states and international financial institutions. The
participants discussed the question of providing urgent finical assistance to help restore
a degree of normalcy in the liberated territories. The preliminary deliberations were
promising. We hope to see them come to fruition in the donor conference to be held
at the ministerial level in October. The Lebanese feel that the international community
did not exert adequate efforts to compel compliance with Security Council Resolution 425,
which called upon Israel to end its occupation long ago. Because of this delay, Lebanon
had to suffer the dire consequences of occupation. Our economy crumbled, and our people
endured untold suffering. From this rostrum I appeal to donor countries, the international
financial institutions and the United Nations’ specialized agencies to provide
sufficient assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the South. This will be
a token of solidarity on the part of those able to give on behalf of the international
community.
Mr. President
We thought that the prospects for the realization of a just and comprehensive peace in the
region were real following recent rounds of negotiations held over the past few months.
Regrettably the results were disappointing. The negotiations for peace floundered and the
process was derailed on all tracks. This was due to the fact that the Israeli leadership
gave precedence to the logic of “Nos” over the principles of right and justice.
That is particularly unfortunate in the light of the many achievements which brought
negotiations so close to an optimal solution, especially on the Syrian track. The
prerogatives of peace are not commensurate with Israel’s “Nos.” These
“Nos” run counter to internationally legitimate resolutions that provided for
the return to Syria of all the Golan up to the line of June 4, 1967. These resolutions
also recognized the need to enable the Palestinian people to recover their inalienable
rights, including their right to self-determination, to the establishment of an
independent state on their own national soil with Jerusalem as its capital, and their
right to return to their homeland in Palestine. The liberation of most Lebanese
territories from Israeli occupation will not affect Lebanon’s commitment to the
peaceful settlement of the Middle East question. Lebanon upholds its position with regard
to the inseparability of the Syrian and Lebanese tracks. We believe that the opportunity
for a just and comprehensive peace remains, provided that Israel commit itself to
internationally legitimate resolutions and the Madrid terms of reference.
Lebanon is of the view that Israel has forfeited the achievements made in its negotiations
with the Arabs due to the conflicting agendas of different Israeli parties. This will
hinder the settlement process in the region and further compromise our protracted pursuit
of peace. Lebanon also calls for the co-sponsors of the peace process, namely that of the
United States and the Russian Federation, and on the European Union, to renew their
efforts to relaunch the peace process from the point where it was halted in 1996. Lebanon
cannot fail to stress once again from this international rostrum that to achieve a
peaceful settlement, the Palestinian refugees particularly those hosted by Lebanon
must be enabled to return to their homeland. Ignoring their plight or attempting to
resettle them in Lebanon will further exacerbate the tension and volatility of the region.
This would in turn threaten the prospects of a just and comprehensive peace.
Mr. President,
More than 10 years have passed since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Nevertheless, the
question of the release of the Kuwaiti detainees and prisoners of war still awaits a
solution. We in Lebanon have condemned this invasion. We believe that the release of
prisoners, along with other measures required of Iraq will be an important step to the
improvement of relations with it. Lebanon calls for lifting the sanctions imposed on Iraq,
alleviating the suffering of our brothers the Iraqi people and allowing them to restore
their security, stability, and prosperity. There have been favorable developments in the
relationship between Iran and the Gulf states. This trend must provide an incentive to
settle the three-decade-old dispute between the UAE and Iran in the context of good
neighborliness and the common interests promoted by the Arab League and the Organization
of the Islamic Conference.
Mr. President,
The Millennium Summit was convened as part of a global effort to foster the credibility of
the United Nations and its ability to seek solutions to the problems of our countries and
peoples. Our international organization must be capable of keeping up with the demands and
challenges of the new millennium whenever and wherever they arise. The Millennium Summit
deliberations made it clear that what is at stake is the individual attempts being made to
arrive at a global vision that may differ on details, but would definitely agree on
substance. The Millennium declaration embodies creative ideas and principles that must be
embraced within a global blueprint, then translated into reality. Such a blueprint will
inject the purposes and working methods of the United Nations with novel approaches.
Lebanon concurs with the findings of the summit. The main challenge we are facing today is
to guarantee that the benefits of globalization will be shared by all the peoples of the
world. The correct approach is for us to stand united so that globalization, its
manifestations and consequences will have a “human face.” Adequate controls must
be developed to take into account the different cultures, traditions, and real needs of
the peoples of the world. The costs and benefits of globalization must be fairly and
equally distributed. Lebanon believes that the protection of our common environment
represents a different kind of challenge. Careful strategies must be developed for water
resource management, combating desertification, respect for and preservation of the
ecosystems and combating environmental pollution. These strategies must be governed by new
ethics.
God has privileged Lebanon with a scenic landscape and an optimal geographic location.
Regrettably, we have had our share of environmental degradation. We therefore attach an
increasing importance to environmental questions. Laws are being enacted for the
preservation of the environment, pursuant to the decisions of the relevant international
summit conferences. We need the support of the international community in our endeavors.
Mr. President,
Development has become the main preoccupation of the developing and less-developed
peoples. It must be linked to an open and just global trading system within an
institutional framework that guarantees the unobstructed flow of finances and investments
as well as the transfer of technology. We must develop an international mechanism within
the United Nations to address the indebtedness of the developing countries. In our view
there is an inherent link between the achievements of international peace and security and
the process of development and peace building. Hotbeds of tension and protracted armed
conflicts in some regions of Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East impede the
realization of integrated development. Our international organization must therefore
dedicate more efforts to defuse the tension and resolve the crises by reforming its two
primary organs, namely the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council and
invigorating their role.
Mr. President,
Lebanon is a founding member of the UN, and contributed to the drafting of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Today Lebanon looks forward to playing a distinguished role
on the regional and international arenas. We are anxious to reconstruct and rehabilitate
our vital civil institutions and economy after the liberation of our land from the
Israel occupation. We in Lebanon strive for a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle
East that would bring back stability to our region and allow us to play a role in building
the world in which we aspire to live today.