16 February 2005

State's Burns Calls for Investigation into Hariri Assassination

Assistant secretary says Syria must withdraw forces from Lebanon

Assistant Secretary of State William Burns, expressing a sense of outrage, loss and anger that the United States shares with the people of Lebanon following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, has called for "a serious and credible investigation to bring those responsible for this act of terrorism to justice."

After attending the funeral for the former prime minister, Burns praised Hariri as "a genuine statesman. He was a man deeply committed to a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon."

Speaking to reporters after a February 16 meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, Burns said that Hariri's death "must give, renewed impetus to achieving a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon."  

"What that means is the immediate and complete implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559. And what that also means is the complete and immediate withdrawal by Syria of all of its forces from Lebanon," he said.

The Security Council passed Resolution 1559 in September 2004 as Syria was pressuring Lebanese politicians to approve an unconstitutional extension of President Emile Lahoud's mandate.

Burns said that the United States would be watching closely during Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for May, to ensure that the Lebanese are allowed to conduct the elections "free of foreign interference or intimidation."

Resolution 1559 calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, the disbanding of militias and the extension of Lebanese government sovereignty over the country's entire territory.

Syria had troops in Lebanon throughout the Lebanese civil war and claims that its forces have been necessary to maintain security since the implementation of the 1989 Ta'if Accords, which brought an end to the conflict.

Burns said that it is time for Syria to comply with the U.N. resolution "so that a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon, what Rafik Hariri worked so hard to achieve, becomes a reality."

Burns noted that the United States recalled Ambassador Margaret Scobey from Damascus for consultations following the Hariri assassination and said that the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Syria would be a topic of discussion as Washington consults with its envoy.

Following are transcripts of Burns' comments following his meetings with Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud and with Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, as released by the U.S. embassy in Lebanon:

(begin transcript)

Embassy of the United States, Beirut, Lebanon

Transcript: Statement of Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Burns at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, accompanied by Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman.

Beirut, Lebanon
February 16, 2005

Good afternoon.   In my meeting with the Foreign Minister, on this sad day for Lebanon, I reemphasized America's strong condemnation of the murder of former Prime Minister Hariri. Let me today repeat once again our condolences to the Hariri family and to the families of all those innocent victims of this brutal act of terrorism.  

The United States joins with the entire international community in stressing the urgent importance of a serious and credible investigation to bring those responsible for this act of terrorism to justice.

Prime Minister Hariri was a genuine statesman. He was a man deeply committed to a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon. Mr. Hariri had many admirers and friends in the United States.   Today, Americans join the people of Lebanon in a deeply-shared sense of outrage and of loss and of anger.

Mr. Hariri's death should give, in fact it must give, renewed impetus to achieving a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon.   What that means is the immediate and complete implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559. And what that also means is the complete and immediate withdrawal by Syria of all of its forces from Lebanon.

The international community will be watching very carefully as Lebanon prepares for Parliamentary elections this spring.   The Lebanese people must be allowed to make their own political choices and to conduct those elections on their own, free of foreign interference or intimidation.

And let me stress finally the importance of implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1566, which the international community is intent upon pursuing with renewed determination to ensure that there is full cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Thank you.

Questions:

Question: The Security Council asked the Secretary General to put a report about Lebanon, about this (incident), what can we wait for after as a new step?

Assistant Secretary Burns: Let me stress once again as the Security Council made clear yesterday in its public statement the importance, the urgent importance, of a serious, credible investigation into this act of terrorism, using the resources of anyone in the international community who might be able to help in that effort.   We believe that's extremely important and we are joined, as I said, by our partners in the Security Council in that view.   The UN Secretary General is now moving on an urgent basis to prepare a report and the United States will strongly support that effort.

Question: Mr. Burns, The Lebanese Government refused the formation of an international investigative committee.   What do you have to say about this and why do you think this refusal happened?

What is important, as I stressed and as the Security Council stressed yesterday is that this investigation be serious and credible and be conducted with real urgency in the self-interest of the people of Lebanon as well as in the interest of the region and the international community.   We in the United States, and other members of the international community, are prepared to help.   But what's important is that that investigation moves ahead, that it be thorough, credible and that it achieves a result, which is to bring to justice those responsible for this terrible act.

Thank you very much.

(end first transcript)

(begin second transcript)

Transcript:
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Ambassador William J. Burns

Press Conference
(following meeting with Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir)
Bkerki, Lebanon
February 16, 2005

Assistant Secretary Burns: Good afternoon.   As all of you know, this is a sad day for Lebanon after the tragic murder of Mr. Hariri, but I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with his Eminence the Patriarch, and we had a very good and thorough discussion.   I stressed the importance the United States attaches to a serious, credible investigation into the act of terrorism that occurred so that those who were responsible are brought swiftly to justice.   I stressed also the continuing strong American commitment to the implementation of Resolution 1559 and I also stressed the importance the United States and many others in the international community will attach to the ability of the Lebanese people to conduct the parliamentary elections in the spring on their own, in a way that is free of any outside interference or intimidation.   In that regard, I did note the very strong statement that was issued recently by the Maronite Bishops, so again, it is a pleasure to be here today and to have had a chance to meet with his Eminence.   I'll be glad to take a question

Question:   The Lebanese opposition has accused Syria of committing the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri.   What is your comment?

Assistant Secretary Burns:   I don't know who is responsible for this horrible act of terrorism.   What I know is that those who are responsible, need to be brought to justice quickly, and that there does need to be a serious, credible, and thorough investigation.   What I also know is that Syria has responsibilities which are made clear in Resolution 1559 and those responsibilities need to be implemented immediately.

Question:   How will the assassination affect the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559?

Assistant Secretary Burns:   I think it is a reminder to all of us in the international community and the Security Council and throughout the region of the importance of moving ahead to implement that resolution, so that a free, independent and sovereign Lebanon, what Rafik Hariri worked so hard to achieve, becomes a reality.   I think that it is a reminder to us, not only Americans, but to our partners in the international community, to redouble our efforts towards that end.

Question:   Do you expect additional sanctions against Syria?

Assistant Secretary Burns:   As you know, we recalled our Ambassador in Damascus to Washington for consultations.   This is a clear sign of our growing concern about Syria's behavior, about the difficulties we are having in our relationship with Syria, and it is an opportunity for us to review a number of options that we may have.   As you know, the Syria Accountability Act, which was passed by the U.S. Congress, and which President Bush has begun to implement, contains a number of further provisions.   So, it will certainly be a subject of our consultations over the coming days.

(end transcript)