ILC1559

Urgent Memo to the Members of the Security Council of the Organization of the United Nations

THE INTERNATIONAL LEBANESE COMMITTEE  FOR UNSCR 1559           

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8th  of May 2008

Sir  John Sawers
President of UN Security Council
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
The United Kingdom at the United Nations
One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
885 Second Avenue New York, NY 10017

Urgent Memo to the Members of the Security Council of the Organization of the United Nations

Subject: UN intervention to protect Beirut International Airport and the Lebanese Capital

Your Excellency  Sir Sawers,

In view of the fact that as of 7th of May, the members and supporters of Hezbollah organization and pro-Syrian militiamen have seized the roads leading from and to the Beirut International Airport (BIA) and have practically isolated it from the rest of the country, disrupting the security of international air traffic; and in view of the fact that the militia control of the Airport has created a threat against the security of civilian travellers from and into Lebanon;

And in view of the fact that the seizing of BIA has disrupted the communication and transportation system between the United Nations and the UNIFIL deployed in the southern part of the country in application of UNSCR 1701, thus endangering the mission and therefore endangering the Peace this mission was in charge with; in view of the fact that endangering Peace is covered by the stipulations of Chapter 7 of the Charter;

And in view of the fact that the command of the Lebanese Army -until the time of issuing this memo- didn't deploy yet the necessary troops to free BIA from militia control;

And in view of the fact that the same militia -Hezbollah and its allies- have deployed their armed elements at different locations of the capital Beirut and other areas; and after having reviewed the statements made by the Prime Minister of the country, Mr Fouad Seniora, the Muslim Sunni Mufti Sheikh Mohamed Rachid Qabbani calling for rescue from Hezbollah Iranian terror;

And in view of the fact the command of the Lebanese Army didn't disarm the militias that have already penetrated Beirut;

We, the International Lebanese Committee for the Implementation of UNSCR 1559, and after consultation with the secretariat general of the March 14 movement and Lebanese civil society NGOs, therefore call on the UN Security Council to act swiftly under UNSCR 1701, UNSCR 1559 and Chapter 7 to deploy UN forces at and around the Beirut International Airport to protect the security of passengers and workers and insure free passage for the civilian population as well as insuring communications for UNIFIL also deploy inside the capital Beirut to protect its civilian populations as well as its democratically elected institutions.

We urge you to act as fast as possible to prevent a major escalation of violence in Lebanon and a disruption of the Peace operations under the said resolutions.

Sincerely yours
 

Tom Harb
Secretary General
ILC 1559

CC.  UNSC members