Source: http://www.un.int/usa/06_117.htm http://www.un.int/usa/06_117.htm
Date: May 12, 2006

United States Mission to the United Nations
USUN PRESS RELEASE # 117 (06)   
May 12, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Remarks by Ambassador Bolton on Syria/Lebanon, Burma, and other matters at the Security Council Stakeout, May 12, 2006
Ambassador Bolton:  Let me just say we and the United Kingdom and France have just introduced a resolution on Lebanon and Syria intended to be a follow-up to the Secretary General’s recent report, and Terje Roed-Larson’s report.  We think the resolution is called for at this point because of the request of Prime Minister Siniora and the unanimous request of the Lebanese National Dialogue for support in the continued implementation of Resolution 1559.  We stress again, we want all of 1559 implemented to bolster the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Lebanon.  We make particular emphasis on the importance of cutting off the flow from Syria of arms and support to militias inside Lebanon.  We also stress the importance of delineation of the border between the two countries and call on Syria to respond to the Lebanese request to open full diplomatic relations and a variety of other aspects as well.  The border and the diplomatic relations are critical to force Syria to come out of denial that Lebanon is an independent country.  If you’re not willing to recognize another country, if you’re not willing to delineate the border between two countries that are neighbors, it’s a way of saying, which is what we think Syria is doing, it’s a way of saying that Lebanon is not an independent country.  And to get beyond the current situation, to get full implementation of 1559, we think that’s important.  Now I want to stress also that although this resolution is just follow-up to 1559, continued Syrian compliance with 1595 is also very much on our mind, and that Serge Brammertz, the investigator that has been here this week, I’ve met with him and I know a number of other Perm Reps have, and we just remind Syria again that the Security Council has said there would be serious consequences if Syria does not fully comply with the demands of the Commission and cooperate with the investigation.  So we think this resolution, we hope it will be adopted promptly, we think it will be a strong signal of the Council’s continued support for moving toward full implementation of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity and we hope it’ll be adopted next week. Yes?
Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, this resolution is not as strong as perhaps you earlier indicated you would like a resolution dealing with Iran and Hezbollah.  Perhaps if I could just broaden this out a little bit, there seems to been a bit of a US retreat on Iran, a US retreat on Hamas, US has seen the unraveling of the reform package here, and I’m wondering are we seeing an unraveling of the US ability to influence events here at the United Nations?
Ambassador Bolton:  No, I don’t think that’s what you’re seeing, and I would remind you that this draft is cosponsored by a number of countries and specifically with respect to Iran and Hezbollah, operative paragraph 3 in the draft says, reiterates its call on all concerned states and parties as mentioned in the report of the Secretary General. That’s a clear reference to both Syria and Iran and to Hezbollah.  So it’s not necessarily exactly way we would have written it, but that’s the way these things happen in the Security Council, but I’m quite satisfied with this draft. 
Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, some countries and parties have problems with OP3. Are you willing to compromise on that?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, I’d want to see what their arguments are.  I mean I think that it’s a fair point that the Security Council should not be roaming the globe resolving problems of bilateral diplomatic relations, but that’s not the issue here.  The question between Syria and Lebanon involves a decades-long occupation of one country by the other, of continued meddling in the internal affairs of Lebanon by Syria, and therefore questions of the extension of diplomatic relations here are critical to breaking through the denial that apparently still grips Lebanon.  So I don’t think this is a precedent.  More broadly, I think it is a precedent when there’s been such a clear breech of international peace and security as the violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty over an extended period by Syria that it’s appropriate in this context to make that call.
Reporter: Two questions on Brammertz.  The impression at least in Syria and other places is that his silence is really about not having much to do and not pushing them and absolving them from that public opinion pressure.  You had spoke with him, is he on the right track, does he intend to stay, and what else can you tell us about the mood he can reflect, I know you’re not going to reveal the details, at least mood of what he’s doing? And secondly, you did cave in on Iran, on the resolution of Iran, people are expecting you to cave in just as much on this resolution on Lebanon and Syria.  Tell us why won’t you and how will you not.
Ambassador Bolton:  First, on Serge Brammertz.  You know prosecutors don’t normally comment on the strength of their case or the way the case is developing, and I think it’s just Brammertz’s personal style that he maintains a low profile in the media.  I wouldn’t draw any conclusion from that if I were the government of Syria one way or the other, and when his result is ready I’m sure he’ll announce it or it will be ready for announcement in an appropriate indictment in the appropriate court. With respect to Iran, let me just say, as I think the Secretary of State has made clear, we have put the resolution aside in terms of not pressing it, but the question of what the Europeans come up with and whether the whole Perm 5 agree to it, which is critical, whether the Russians and the Chinese agree to the sticks as well as the carrots, will determine whether we go ahead.  I am confident that one way or the other there’s going to be a resolution along the lines we were pushing because I think it’s important to make mandatory on Iran the requirements of suspending its enrichment-related activities.  Now if the Iranians are prepared to do that, the Europeans are prepared to continue discussions with them.  But suspension of uranium enrichment and re-processing remains a red line for the Europeans, it certainly remains a red line for us, and we believe it’s a red line for Russia and China.  I think this is clearly a delay, but it’s intended to show the American willingness to try and exhaust every diplomatic possibility and it proves again that the key to this still lies in Iran’s hands.  So we’ll just see what their reaction is.  Edie?
Reporter:  (Inaudible) 
Ambassador Bolton:  We just introduced the resolution; I have no intention of caving in on it.
Reporter:  Mr. Ambassador, two things.  You just gave a veiled warning to the Syrians on the issue of cooperation with Mr. Brammertz, did you get an indication from talking with him that in fact their cooperation had not been what it should?  And secondly, I wonder if you can comment on the Sudan resolution.  The language is quite a bit weaker than in the original draft that was circulated during the meeting earlier this week.  Is this a pull back?  Was this done for some reason?  The reference to NATO is out and the decides got changed?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well I think my comments to Syria on cooperation under 1595 are just a regular reminder to them of the importance that they cooperate; not occasion by anything particular that Brammertz said.  In terms of the Sudan Resolution, I don’t think it’s substantially weaker, I think some things were removed in an effort to reach a broader consensus within the Council about what the text will be.  I think we are very close to bringing that before the Council.  I hope it will be unanimous but again we are prepared to go whether it’s unanimous or not.  
Reporter:  Mr. Ambassador, thank you.  The Deputy Foreign Minister of Syria was here two days ago and he said-
Ambassador Bolton:  I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting with him, can’t imagine why.
Reporter:  He said that clearly Syria has cooperated fully with Brammertz and that was the object of his talk.  And another thing, what is on the Syrian/Lebanese diplomatic relation, he said also that there is a very strong relation between Syria and Lebanon.  They have the supreme council and Lebanon already has an Ambassador in Damascus. 
Would you comment on that, please?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well then I am sure the government of Syria should be prepared in very short order to send an Ambassador to Lebanon and make it clear that they are extending full diplomatic relations.  So that is good to know because that should remove the concerns of some in the Council that we’re imposing on the Syrian government.
I have two people from Reuters, I just can’t decide who to call on first.
Reporter:  On Somalia, the State Department Spokesman essentially acknowledged last week that the U.S. was providing aid for this anti-terror coalition, which is battling the Islamic fundamentalists in Mogadishu.  And I am wondering if this would present a problem to the U.S. here at the United Nations if it turns out that the U.S. is violating the arms embargo there?  
Ambassador Bolton:  Well I can assure you we are not violating the arms embargo and that’s clear and I just don’t think there is any real question about that.
Reporter:  (Inaudible) violating the arms embargo if we are shipping arms into-
Ambassador Bolton:  Well what if we are not shipping arms into?  Then we are not violating the arms embargo.
Reporter:  But we haven’t denied it and everybody has reported on it. 
Ambassador Bolton:  And reports can be inaccurate, can’t they?  No, I am confident that we are in compliance with the appropriate resolution.  Now, do you have a different question on another country other than Somalia?  
Reporter:  Yes, I do.  Burma is heating up again.  The Council hasn’t touched it for quite a while and you were instrumental the last time and they seem to be - while eyes are on other tortures in the world, they seem to be doing a number on the border again.  Do you have any intention of bringing it up?  
Ambassador Bolton:  Well I can say what we have done.  I spoke to Under Secretary General Brahimi earlier this week in preparation for his trip to Burma, which we agreed to, on the condition that the concern for Aung San Suu Kyibe raised in all of his meetings and that the concerns expressed in the Council be clearly conveyed by the Under Secretary General to the Burmese authorities.  And I have not made a final decision what to do next but it would certainly be appropriate when Under Secretary Brahimi returns to consider having a briefing by him to the Council.  And I think that is something we could profit from.  
Reporter:  Brahimi or Gambari?
Ambassador Bolton:  Always happy to be corrected by the press, Gambari.  My apologies to both gentlemen but I met with Under Secretary General Gambari, let me be very clear about that.