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M r .C h a i r m a n , I h a v et h e h o n o u rt o s p e a ko n b e h a r f f t h e E u r o p e a n n i o n . o U T h e A c c e d i n g o u n t r i e s u l g a r i a n d R o m a n i at,h e C a n d i d a t e o u n t r i e s r o a t i a x C B a C C a n d t h e f o r m e rY u g o s l a v e p u b l i c f M a c e d o n i a x , e C o u n t r i e s f t h e R o th o S t a b i l i s a t i oa n d A s s o c i a t i o P r o c e s s n d p o t e n t i a c a n d i d a t e s l b a n i a , o s n i a n d n n l a A B a Herzegovina, Montenegro, serbia, and the EFTA country Liechtenstein, memberof t h e E u r o p e a n c o n o m i c r e a ,a s w e l l a s U k r a i n e n d M o l d o v a l i g nt h e m s e l v e s E A a a withthisdeclaration. x) Croatiaand the former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia of continueto be part of process. the Stabilisation and Association At the outset,we would like expressour sincereappreciation the delegation to of Lebanon their constructive for cooperation this draft resolution.Despi'te on the c o n s t r u c t i v d i a l o g u e i t h t h e L e b a n e s e e l e g a t i o n n d n o t a b l ei m p r o v e m e n t i n e w d a s the text, the European Unionfeelsthat the circumstances that led to the outbreak of the hostilities have not been fully addressed. We have thereforeabstained in the vote on the draft resolution. The EU remainscommittedto the protection and promotionof the human rights of s a l l i n d i v i d u a la n d m a i n t a i n s h a t b o t h p a r t i e st o t h e c o n f l i c th a v e a n e q u a l t responsibility do everythingpossible protectcivilianpopulations to to and to r e f r a i nf r o m a c t i o n si n v i o l a t i o n f i n t e r n a t i o n a l u m a n i t a r i a na w . T h e E u r o p e a n o h l U n i o nd e p l o r e s l l l o s so f c i v i l i a n i f e d u r i n gt h i s c o n f l i c t , o t h a s a r e s u l to f t h e a l b Hezbollah rocketattackson Israelas well as the Israelimilitary operations in Lebanon. We reiterateour call for the immediatereleaseof the two abducted I s r a e l is o l d i e r s . T h e E u r o p e a n n i o nc o n t i n u e so b e c o m m i t t e dt o s u p p o r tt h e l e g i t i m a t e n d U t a democratically electedgovernmentof PrimeMinisterFouadSinioia, its effortsto stabilise the situationin the country,and to enhancing the reconstruction process in the perspective the Parisconferencein January2007. of In light of the brutal assassination Lebanese of Industry MinisterpierreGemayel, whichthe we have condemned the strongestterms, the European in Unioncalls all countriesin the r-egion refrainfrom any violationof the sovereignty to and territorialintegrityof Lebanonand from any interference Lebanon's in internal affairs,in accordance with UNSCresolutions. encourage Lebanese We parties all t o r e a c hc o n s e n s u a n d t o r e s u m et h e p r o c e s s f n a t i o n a l i a l o g u e . s o d I n o r d e rt o b e a b l et o b u i l dl o n gt e r m a n d s u s t a i n a b l ee s u l t s , e m u s t e n s u r e r w that violence will not reoccur.The political aspectsand the root causesof the c r i s e s u s t b e d e a l tw i t h . I n t h a t r e g a r d ,t h e E u r o p e a n n i o ni s d e t e r m i n e do m U t s u p p o r t h e f u l l i m p l e m e n t a t i o o f U N S C R 7 0 L .W e c a l l a l l p a r t i e si n t h e r e g i o nt o n L c o m p l yw i t h t h e r e s o l u t i o n .

governmentin meetingits The EU will continueto assistthe Lebanese n l a h u m a n i t a r i a n n d e n v i r o n m e n t an e e d sa n d i n t h e r e h a b i l i t a t i oa n d process. We remaindeeplyconcerned about the well beingand reconstruction r c o f a l l L e b a n e s e i v i l i a n si,n p a r t i c u l a c h i l d r e n . safety Government the in the need to providefirm supportto Lebanon's We underline efforts. reconstruction T h a n ky o u , M r . C h a i r m a n .