UN Resolutions

“Britain and the US say a deal is close to being reached on the resolution which would set the stage for an international force for south Lebanon. But France says there must be a halt to the clashes before UN forces can be sent in.” Link READ MORE

Washington Post: “The U.N. Security Council Monday adopted a resolution demanding that Iran suspend its nuclear activities by the end of August or face possible sanctions.

The resolution, approved by a vote of 14-1, with Qatar opposing, is the first on Iran to set out legally binding demands and a threat to consider sanctions. The United States and its allies suspect Iran is developing nuclear bombs and accuse it of concealing research over 18 years.” READ MORE

“British Prime Minister Tony Blair will seek a U.N. resolution to resolve the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas during talks with President Bush in Washington, his spokesman said Friday.” [More] READ MORE

New York Times: “The Security Council condemned North Korea’s missile launchings on Saturday and demanded that the country suspend its ballistic missile program, in a resolution that was weakened at the 11th hour to forestall a veto by China. All 15 members voted for the measure, which requires all countries to prevent North Korea from receiving or transferring missile-related items and “strongly urges” North Korea to abandon its nuclear program and return to the six-party talks on that program.” READ MORE

“The United Nation Security Council today unanimously called on Syria to detain Syrian suspects identified by an independent probe into the terrorist assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and clarify all unresolved issues, threatening ‘further action’ in the case of non-compliance.

At a special ministerial-level session, the 15-member body adopted a resolution endorsing the findings of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) into the assassination. Resolution 1636 took note “with extreme concern” of the UNIIIC’s conclusion that “while the Syrian authorities have cooperated in form but not substance with the Commission, several Syrian officials tried to mislead the Commission by giving false or inaccurate information.” MORE READ MORE

NYT: “The resolution threatens Syria with economic penalties if it does not give full cooperation to the United Nations investigation that has identified high-ranking security officials as suspects in the assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri. The measure also orders Syria to take into custody and make available to the investigators people they suspect of involvement in the killing.”

Update: “Key U.N. Security Council members dropped the threat of sanctions against Syria on Monday in a last-minute effort to get all 15 nations to back a resolution demanding that Damascus cooperate with an investigation into the assassination of Lebanon’s former prime minister…. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton told reporters that foreign ministers of the five permanent veto-wielding nations agreed to the changes because of “the prospect of getting a near unanimous vote in the council.” Despite the changes, he said, “it’s going to be unmistakably a clear message” and “a strong resolution.” – AP READ MORE