SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT CONDEMNS BEIRUT TERRORIST BOMBING THAT KILLED LEBANESE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT GEBRAN TUENI

Security Council

5320^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT CONDEMNS BEIRUT TERRORIST BOMBING

THAT KILLED LEBANESE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT GEBRAN TUENI

Says Journalist ‘Outspoken Symbol of Freedom’, Political Independence ;

Sponsors of Such Destabilizing Attacks Will Not Be Permitted to Succeed

The Security Council this afternoon condemned in the strongest terms the 12 December terrorist bombing in the suburbs of Beirut that killed Lebanese Member of Parliament, editor and journalist Gebran Tueni, as well as three others.

In a presidential statement read by Emyr Jones Parry ( United Kingdom), the Council described Mr. Tueni as “a patriot who was an outspoken symbol of freedom and the sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon”.

The Council reiterated its deepest concern about the destabilizing impact of political assassinations and other terrorist acts in Lebanon.  It welcomed the determination and commitment of that country’s Government to bring to justice all those responsible for the assassination and others before, expressing its “readiness to consider positively any request for assistance in this regard from the Lebanese Government”.

The meeting, which started at 5:12 p.m., was adjourned at 5:14 p.m.

Presidential statement S/PRST/2005/61 reads, as follows:

“The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the 12 December terrorist bombing in the suburbs of Beirut that killed Lebanese Member of Parliament, editor and journalist Gebran Tueni, a patriot who was an outspoken symbol of freedom and the sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon, as well as three others.  It expresses its deepest sympathy to the families of those killed and injured.

“The Security Council reiterates its deepest concern about the destabilizing impact of political assassinations and other terrorist acts in Lebanon.  It reiterates also its warning that the sponsors of today’s and previous terrorist attacks against political leaders and leading members of civil society in Lebanon, whose obvious aim is to undermine Lebanon’s security, stability, sovereignty, national unity, political independence and press freedom, will not be permitted to succeed and will finally be held accountable for their crimes.

“The Security Council welcomes the determination and commitment of the Government of Lebanon to bring to justice all those responsible for this assassination and others before, and expresses its readiness to consider positively any request for assistance in this regard from the Lebanese Government.

“The Security Council reaffirms its resolution 1559 (2004), and reiterates once again its call for the strict respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon.  The Security Council urges all States, in accordance with its resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1566 (2004), to cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism.”

* *** *

For information media • not an official record