S/PV.2894 Security Council

As members of the Council are aware, we are meeting today because of the tragic death of His Excellency Mr. Ren& Moawad, President of the Republic of Lebanon. I now invite members of the : _' 1. ~. Council to stand'and'observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of the late President of the Republic of Lebanon. The members of the Council observed a minute of silence. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA The agenda was adopted. *x THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST '-- :' ' !' (: .t _ The PRESIDENT (interpreta,ti?on‘from Chinese): The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on *its agenda. The Security Council is I. meeting.in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: "The members'of the Security Council express their deep indignation and dismay over the assassination of Mr. Rene Moawad, President of the Lebanese Republic earlier today in Beirut. They express their sympathy and condolences to the family of the late President, to the Prime Minister and to the Lebanese people. "The members of the Security Council strongly condemn this cowardly, criminal and terrorist act for what it is, an attack upon the unity of .Cebanon, the democratic processes and the process of national reconciliation. % f (The President) "The members of the Security Council recall their statement of 7 November 1989, and reaffirm their support for the efforts undertaken by the Tripartite High Committee of the Arab League and for the Taif Agreement. These remain the only basis for guaranteeing the full sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Lebanon. "The members of the Security Council reiterate their call of 7 November 1989 to all sectors of the Lebanese people to continue the process of achieving the goals of the restoration of the Lebanese State and the establishment of renovated institutions that had started with the election of President Moawad and the appointment of Prime Minister Selim El-Hoss. Democratic Lebanese institutions must be strongly supported-and the process of national reconciliation must go forward. This is the only way Lebanese national unity can be fully restored. "The members of the Security Council solemnly reaffirm their support for the Taif Agreement ratified by the Lebanese Parliament on 5 November .1989. In this regard, they urge all Lebanese people to exercise restraint, to rededicate themselves to the urgent task of national reconciliation, and to demonstrate their commitment to democratic processes. "The members of the Security Council are convinced that all those who seek to divide the people of Lebanon through such cowardly, criminal and terrorist acts of violence cannot, and will not, succeed." The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meeting rose at 7.20 p.m.