Source: http://www.un.int/usa/06_197.htm http://www.un.int/usa/06_197.htm
Date: August 7, 2006

USUN PRESS RELEASE # 197(06)   
August 5, 2006 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Remarks by Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, on the Situation in the Middle East, at the Security Council stakeout, August 5, 2006 
Ambassador Bolton: Why don’t we get started? I think the Council meeting was very productive. We’ve received a lot of encouraging comments on the draft text. I didn't hear anything that was particularly discouraging. Obviously, everybody said they need to send the text back to their capitals and get instructions. We are right now having an expert level meeting to answer questions about the text because it is a lengthy and complicated text and we would expect that tomorrow morning, the experts will get together again and discuss reactions from capitals and we are prepared to meet at the ambassadorial level later in the day if circumstance warrants it. I think people are generally pleased with the draft and prepared to move as expeditiously as possible, which certainly we're prepared to do at whatever speed other members of the Council can reach agreement, then we'll go from there. Any questions? 

Reporter: Some news from a little before: the Lebanese government rejected the draft. Do you think there will be any room to adjust it or to listen to the Lebanese demands in this regard? 

Ambassador Bolton: I'd rather not comment on reports like that. I can say that we have been in touch with the government of Lebanon at the very highest levels throughout this negotiation. Secretary Rice has been on the phone with Prime Minister Siniora. We've had our Assistant Secretary for the Near East, David Welch, was in Beirut the past two days, and we've been in discussion here in New York, obviously. So we're working on this; and, I think, continue to talk to the government of Lebanon, explain the text and go from there and hope for a positive response. 

Reporter: Ambassador, some of the Arab ambassadors who are expressing reservations about the Secretary at the Arab ambassadors meeting and they have comments about her. One ambassador said the meeting was if Shebaa farm is handed over to the Lebanon by the Israelis, then the reason for Hezbollah to exist is not there anymore. Do you have any comments on that? 

Ambassador Bolton: Look, that question is a particularly sensitive one. The Shebaa farms issue has always been an excuse for Hezbollah to retain its weapons, and we go back to the point we made before that the question really is in Hezbollah’s court, whether it wants to be a normal political party or not. And it could do that whether or not the Shebaa farms issue was resolved. Any other questions then? Okay, well then -- 

Reporter: How long do you see, sir, the formation of international force will take, you are very familiar with the cases and the problems, to assure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese land? 

Ambassador Bolton: Well, we're prepared to move very quickly. As you know, we were prepared to have a meeting of potential troop-contributing countries this past week and we would look forward to rescheduling that and beginning to get countries to consider whether to make contributions or not. I think our first task is to get this resolution passed and then we'll see where we go in terms of that question, as well. Yes, sir? 

Reporter: Why did you object during the negotiation to the expression “immediate cessation of hostilities” and what does the new expression bring that this expression didn't have, in your view? 

Ambassador Bolton: It doesn't have the word immediate, for one. The point we've made repeatedly is that the cease-fire, cessation of hostilities has to be in the context of a fundamental transformation of the issue in the region. Otherwise we will simply risk a repetition, as we have countless times before, without actually solving the problem. We think that this resolution is a workable resolution and that that will contribute to that ultimate solution. Because otherwise, we're just repeating mistakes we've made in the past. I'll take one more here. 

Reporter: Do you expect a vote on Monday? 

Ambassador Bolton: I think it's possible. I think it really depends on what the members of the Council see, what instructions they get from their capitals overnight. If we're close to agreement, as I say, depending on the pace members of the Council want to proceed, we’d be prepared for such a vote. We’re ready for it at any time. 

Reporter: (inaudible) 

Ambassador Bolton: I don't know exactly what that possibility will be. I've explained to the Council that we think a ministerial meeting would show high-level support for this resolution, which is very important. On the other hand, we also recognize we want to move quickly, and ministerial schedules are hard things to turn around on a dime. Our first objective is to see if members of the Council are prepared to accept the resolution. That's the priority. Okay, thanks very much.