[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: The text uses different adjectives to describe the
level of concern the UN Security Council has:

"deep concern" that Israel is flying over Lebanese air space to monitor the
situation.

"grave concern" over what the Israelis are apparently finding as a result of
this activity (" persistent reports of breaches of the arms embargo along
the Lebanon-Syria border").

In the other hand, rearming of Lebanese and non-Lebanese armed groups and
militias rates only a "concern".

Detailed information regarding "dangerous activities of armed elements and
groups, in particular PFLP-GC and Fatah Intifada" does not even rate a
"concern" but instead the "Council takes note" of it.

The "deep concern" rating is also applied to that Hizbullah has not returned
the two Israeli soldiers it abducted, or even provided proof of life and the
presence of unexploded ordnance in south Lebanon .]
=============

3 August 2007
Security Council
SC/9091

Department of Public Information News and Media Division New York

Security Council
5728th Meeting (AM)
www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9091.doc.htm

SECURITY COUNCIL, IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, EXPRESSES GRAVE CONCERN
AT BREACHES OF ARMS EMBARGO ALONG LEBANON-SYRIA BORDER

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2007/29 reads as follows:

"The Security Council recalls its previous resolutions and statements on
Lebanon. It welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 28 June 2007
(S/2007/392). It reaffirms its strong support for the sovereignty,
territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon within
its internationally recognized borders and under the sole and exclusive
authority of its Government. The Council encourages efforts towards
national reconciliation and political dialogue. It reiterates its full
support for the legitimate and democratically elected Government of Lebanon,
calls for full respect for the democratic institutions of the country, in
conformity with its constitution, and condemns any effort to destabilize
Lebanon. The Council also reiterates its full support for the efforts
carried out by the Lebanese Army to ensure security and stability throughout
Lebanon, and reaffirms that there should be no weapons or authority in
Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese State.

"The Security Council reiterates its attachment to the full implementation
of all provisions of resolution 1701 (2006) and urges all concerned parties
to cooperate fully with the Security Council and the Secretary-General to
achieve a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution as envisioned in the
resolution. It also takes note of the Government of Lebanon's letter, in
which it reaffirmed its commitment to the role of United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and asked for the renewal of its mandate. The
Council reaffirms its full support for UNIFIL, condemns all terrorist
attacks against it and calls on all parties to abide by their obligation to
respect the safety of United Nations personnel. It also emphasizes the need
for UNIFIL to enhance its investigative capacity in response to the attacks.
The Council welcomes the tripartite arrangements referred to in the report,
notes the commitments to reach an agreement on the northern part of Ghajar
and encourages the parties to cooperate with UNIFIL to visibly mark the Blue
Line. It expresses its deep concern at the increase in Israeli violations
of Lebanese air space and appeals to all parties concerned to respect the
cessation of hostilities and the Blue Line in its entirety.

"The Security Council, in this context, expresses grave concern at
persistent reports of breaches of the arms embargo along the Lebanon-Syria
border. It expresses concern at any allegation of rearming of Lebanese and
non-Lebanese armed groups and militias, and reiterates that there should be
no sale or supply of arms and related materiel to Lebanon except as
authorized by its Government. In this regard, it expresses concern about
the recent statement by Hizbullah that it retains the military capacity to
strike all parts of Israel, and calls on all parties to refrain from
statements and activities that could jeopardize the cessation of
hostilities. The Council takes note of the detailed information conveyed by
the Government of Lebanon about the dangerous activities of armed elements
and groups, in particular PFLP-GC and Fatah Intifada, and reiterates its
call for the disbanding and disarmament of all militias and armed groups in
Lebanon. It underscores the obligation of all Member States, in particular
in the region, to take all necessary measures to implement paragraph 15 of
resolution 1701 to enforce the arms embargo.

"The Security Council welcomes the recommendations of the Lebanon
Independent Border Assessment Team (LIBAT) and looks forward to their
implementation. It requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the
Government of Lebanon, to assess their implementation and to regularly
update the Council on this issue in his regular reports on the
implementation of resolution 1701, including as appropriate and in
coordination with the Government of Lebanon, on the basis of follow-up field
visits. The Council welcomes the assistance provided by donors to help the
Government of Lebanon to secure its borders, and encourages further such
assistance, including by continuing to provide equipment and border security
experts. Underlining that Syria and Lebanon share responsibility for
controlling their border, it notes that the Government of Syria has stated
that it has taken measures, reiterates its call on that Government to take
further measures to reinforce control at the border and looks forward to
additional proposals in this regard in light of the Secretary-General's
visit to Syria. The Council also calls for enhanced cross-border
cooperation to secure the Syrian-Lebanese border.

"The Security Council emphasizes the need for greater progress on all the
principles and elements required for a permanent ceasefire and long-term
solution identified in resolution 1701. The Council expresses deep concern
that Hizbullah has not returned the two Israeli soldiers it abducted, or
even provided proof of life, and calls for their immediate and unconditional
return. It further encourages efforts to urgently settle the issue of
Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel.

"The Council expresses deep concern at the presence of unexploded ordnance
in south Lebanon and renews its support for the Secretary-General's request
to Israel to provide to the United Nations detailed data on its use of
cluster munitions in southern Lebanon.

"The Security Council, bearing in mind the relevant provisions of
resolutions 1559 (2004), 1680 (2006) and 1701 on the delineation of the
Syrian-Lebanese border, looks forward to the reactivation of the
Syrian-Lebanese boundary committee. It takes note of the solid progress
made by the cartographer towards a provisional determination of the
geographical extent of the Shebaa Farms and welcomes the Secretary-General's
intention to engage in further discussions with the parties on the Shebaa
Farms area, including on its territorial definition, that will strengthen a
diplomatic process aimed at resolving this key issue in accordance with the
relevant provisions of resolution 1701. It also reiterates its appreciation
for the process launched by the Secretary-General to investigate the
implications of the interim proposal contained in the seven-point plan of
the Government of Lebanon regarding the Shebaa Farms area. Recalling
paragraph 62 of the Secretary-General's report, the Council underlines that
progress should also be made on all the other issues identified in operative
paragraph 10 of resolution 1701. In this regard, the Security Council
requests, pursuant to resolution 1701, that the Secretary-General continue
to develop, in liaison with relevant actors and the concerned parties,
proposals to implement the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords and
resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), including disarmament.

"The Security Council stresses the importance of, and the need to achieve, a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on all its
relevant resolutions, including its resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November
1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973."

*** *