Date of release : 23-05-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

At the 23 May meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels, European Union’s Ministers for Foreign Affairs discussed the situation in Lebanon. Jean Asselborn, current president of the Council of the EU, made the following statement on this subject:

"We applauded the Lebanese Government's decision to accept the deployment of European observers to the upcoming legislative elections. In this context, we reaffirmed our support for the Lebanese Government in accomplishing the goals it has set for itself, mainly the organization of free and democratic elections as scheduled, without violence and without any foreign interference, according to an electoral procedure accepted by all parties.

With regard to the implementation of Resolution 1559, we have noted the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the withdrawal of the intelligence services, which must still be confirmed.

Elsewhere, we have expressed our concern over a new eruption of violence that occurred in mid-May along the Blue Line. We call on all the parties involved to exercise restraint.

Finally, we reaffirmed our support for the International Independent Investigation Commission on the assassination of Rafic Hariri, which has just been set up in accordance with United Nations Resolution 1595. This Commission should begin its work without delay and in complete cooperation with the Lebanese authorities."