Syria lashes back at UN as France, U.S. warn of 'harsher' resolution

By Rym Ghazal 
May 3, 2006
The Daily Star (Lebanon)
Original Source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=24122

BEIRUT: The U.S. and France threatened to draft a new and harsher resolution against Syria within the week, as Damascus slammed UN special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen's report for overstepping the mandate of UN Security Council 1559. 
In an official letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Security Council, dated April 24 but released on Monday, Syria's UN deputy representative Milad Atieh said Annan's latest report, which was written by Roed-Larsen, has exceeded the mandate provided in Security Council Resolution 1559 passed in 2004. 
The letter said Syria would refuse to receive him and claimed his last report on the implementation of the resolution oversteps the mandate of the resolution. 
The issue of establishing or not establishing embassies between the two countries is a matter that falls within the domestic jurisdiction of both countries, and can be agreed on when the environment prevailing in relations between the two countries allows such steps, it said. 
Pushing the Security Council by some parties to adopt new resolutions or statements will not lead to calming the situation in Lebanon or the region but, on the contrary, will escalate the situation of instability and tension, the letter said. 
The letter also dismissed suggestions in the report of uncertainty about the withdrawal of the Syrian intelligence apparatus from Lebanon. 
As Damascus lashed back at the report, U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns threatened Syria on Tuesday with a new strongly worded UN resolution, set to be drafted by the U.S. and France, that calls upon Syria to fully implement all the UN resolutions. 
The declaration by the U.S. official echoes a French announcement last week that a new draft resolution will urge Syria establish formal diplomatic ties with Lebanon and demarcate the common border. 
In another development, Al-Hayat reported Tuesday that Syria will not be receiving Roed-Larsen because he went beyond his jurisdiction in the report that lacked objectivity, according to well-informed 
sources in Damascus. Syria has no intention to receive him [Roed-Larsen] as it has implemented the part of resolution 1559 that applies to it. He has no more business in Syria, the sources told Al-Hayat.  
According to recent reports, Roed-Larsen has informed members of the Syrian delegation to the Security Council that he wishes to visit Damascus soon to discuss the implementation of the resolution. 
When contacted by The Daily Star, an official at the Syrian Foreign Affairs Ministry wouldn't deny or confirm the report. 
But Syrian sources close to the case confirmed the story to The Daily Star, and added that there is a history of bad relations and mistrust between Syria and Roed-Larsen, who during his last visit to Syria was received by officials at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and no one higher. 
A UN spokesperson said Roed-Larsen is continuing his work and has meetings set with various figures in the region, including Syrian officials. 
Roed-Larsen recently met with the Syrian foreign affairs minister, the spokesperson said.