U.N.'s Annan sees "serious obstacles" to truce, proposes conflict resolution plan

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

United Nations – U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said July 20 that the United States will consider fully the suggestions of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the July 20 report of the U.N. special mission to the Middle East as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prepares for a trip to the region that could occur as early as the week of July 24. 

To the extent Annan's proposals are consistent with the statement of the leaders of the 2006 Group of Eight (G8) Summit, they could form a basis on which to proceed, he said. 

Annan on July 20 called for an immediate end to the fighting in Lebanon to prevent further loss of life, give diplomacy a chance and get aid to those in need, but he acknowledged that getting a full cease-fire is "difficult to achieve at this time."

Accompanied by the three-person special mission he sent to the region July 13, Annan told the Security Council that "the mission's assessment is that there are serious obstacles to reaching a cease-fire or even to diminishing the violence quickly."

"Most people in the region rightly reject a simple return to the status quo ante, since any truce based on such a limited outcome could not be expected to last," the secretary-general said.

Bolton said, "What we seek is long-term cessation of hostilities that is part of a comprehensive change in the region and a part of a real foundation for peace."

"It is just not appropriate to talk about a cease-fire as if that is the alpha and the omega of the situation.  In fact, since -- as the secretary-general himself said  -- we want to have a fundamental transformation, the last thing you want to do is fall back into business as usual," he said.

Bolton added, "No one has explained how you conduct a cease-fire with a group of terrorists."

He said that the United States is "looking for a solution that will fundamentally change the reality in the region and spare the peoples of Israel and Lebanon, in particular, from the threat of terrorism."

"That means there is an important sequence of events here; there are important political preconditions," Bolton said.

Annan said that all elements of his plan must be implemented in parallel.  They are:  return of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers; a cease-fire; a large peacekeeping force to stabilize the situation and strengthen the Lebanese army; Lebanese respect of the Blue Line (the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon drawn by the United Nations); international aid for Lebanon's reconstruction and development; and international guarantees for the agreement.

The critical element of the plan is the return of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, Bolton said. "Hizballah has to give these kidnap victims up.  That is an absolute precondition."

The secretary-general blamed Hizballah for triggering the crisis and condemned its "reckless disregard for the wishes" of the Lebanese government and the interests of the Lebanese people and the region. 

"Hizballah's actions, which it portrays as defending Palestine and Lebanese interests, in fact, do neither," Annan said.  "On the contrary, they hold an entire nation hostage, set back prospects for negotiation of a comprehensive Middle East peace."

Emphasizing that Israel has the right to defend itself, the secretary-general nevertheless said Israel should make a greater effort to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.  "Whatever damage Israel's operation may be doing to Hizballah's military capabilities, they are doing little or nothing to decrease popular support of Hizballah in Lebanon or the region, but are doing a great deal to weaken the government of Lebanon," he said.

The government of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, he said, "deserves, and must receive, all possible support from the international community."

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman said that the secretary-general failed to mention "the three key elements of this crisis -- terror, Iran and Syria."

"Terror is the root cause of what is happening in Lebanon," Gillerman said.  Iran is the main perpetrator, harborer, financer and initiator of terror with Hizballah its proxy, he added.

Syria, he pointed out, would not allow the secretary-general's mission into the country.

Annan also reported that about 500,000 civilians have been affected by the conflict so far, but that number could increase.

He said conditions for peacekeeping clearly do not exist and the Security Council will have to decide what to do with the 2,000-strong U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose mandate expires July 31.

Rice and European Union High Commissioner Javier Solana were scheduled to meet with Annan later in the day July 20.