United Nations Security Council Resolution 1636
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1636, adopted unanimously on October 31, 2005, after recalling resolutions 1373
(2001), 1566
(2004) and 1595
(2005), the Council insisted that the Syria
n authorities fully co-operate with the inquiry of the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission
(UNIIIC) into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, not least by arresting the suspects identified by the commission in its final report
.
The resolution, sponsored by France
, the United Kingdom
and United States
, was adopted at a meeting where 11 members of the Council were represented by their foreign minister
s.
which killed Hariri and 22 others
. The Lebanese authorities were praised for the full co-operation they had given to the inquiry, which had not yet completed its investigation. It was also necessary to continue investigations outside the country, and the Council acknowledged a request from Lebanon to extend the mandate
of the UNIIIC. At the same time, it was also recognised that international assistance would be required to establish the truth and hold those responsible for the attack.
The commission had already concluded that, given the interference of Syria in the Lebanese government and the intermingling of the intelligence services of both countries, it was impossible that the attack on Hariri was made without the approval of senior Syrian officials. The Council was also mindful that Syrian officials were hesitant to co-operate with the UNIIIC and that some had provided misleading or false information.
, thus making the provisions legally enforceable.
.
had extended the mandate of UNIIIC until December 15, 2005, and the Council welcomed assistance given to the Commission, particularly by the Lebanese authorities through the arrest of former security officials suspected of involvement in the attack.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1636, adopted unanimously on October 31, 2005, after recalling resolutions 1373
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, adopted unanimously on September 28, 2001, is a counter-terrorism measure passed following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States...
(2001), 1566
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1566
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1566, adopted unanimously on October 8, 2004, after reaffirming resolutions 1267 , 1373 and 1540 , the Council condemned terrorism as a serious threat to peace and strengthened anti-terrorism legislation.-Resolution:Condemning terrorism as one of the most...
(2004) and 1595
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1595
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1595, adopted unanimously on April 7, 2005, after recalling its support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Lebanon, the Council established a commission to assist Lebanese authorities in their investigation of the assassination...
(2005), the Council insisted that the Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n authorities fully co-operate with the inquiry of the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission
United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission
The United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission was established in April 2005 by Security Council Resolution 1595 to investigate the assassination of Rafic Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon on 14 February 2005....
(UNIIIC) into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, not least by arresting the suspects identified by the commission in its final report
Mehlis report
The Mehlis Report is the result of the United Nations' investigation into the 14 February 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. The investigation was launched in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1595 and headed by the German judge, Detlev Mehlis...
.
The resolution, sponsored by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was adopted at a meeting where 11 members of the Council were represented by their foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
s.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council announced that it had examined the report by the UNIIIC into the bombing in BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
which killed Hariri and 22 others
Assassination of Rafic Hariri
On 14 February 2005, Rafic Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, was killed, along with 77 others, when explosives equivalent of around 1,000 kg of TNT were detonated as his motorcade drove near the St. George Hotel in Beirut. Among the dead were several of Hariri's bodyguards and his friend...
. The Lebanese authorities were praised for the full co-operation they had given to the inquiry, which had not yet completed its investigation. It was also necessary to continue investigations outside the country, and the Council acknowledged a request from Lebanon to extend the mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
of the UNIIIC. At the same time, it was also recognised that international assistance would be required to establish the truth and hold those responsible for the attack.
The commission had already concluded that, given the interference of Syria in the Lebanese government and the intermingling of the intelligence services of both countries, it was impossible that the attack on Hariri was made without the approval of senior Syrian officials. The Council was also mindful that Syrian officials were hesitant to co-operate with the UNIIIC and that some had provided misleading or false information.
Acts
The following was enacted under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, thus making the provisions legally enforceable.
I
The Council was concerned about the conclusion that Lebanese and Syrian officials were involved in the attack. It imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on individuals identified by the UNIIIC that were linked to the assassination. A committee of the Security Council was established to administer the restrictions. The Council determined that the involvement of any state would constitute a serious violation of its obligations to not support terrorismTerrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
.
II
The Secretary-General Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
had extended the mandate of UNIIIC until December 15, 2005, and the Council welcomed assistance given to the Commission, particularly by the Lebanese authorities through the arrest of former security officials suspected of involvement in the attack.
III
The Council decided that Syria had to detain individuals responsible for involvement in the attack and co-operate unconditionally with the UNIIIC. It also insisted that Syria refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Lebanon.IV
Finally, the UNIIIC was requested to report on the progress of its investigation by December 13, 2005, including co-operation from Syria.Reaction
Following the adoption of the resolution, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara stated that his country had already co-operated in full and expressed his regret that such a resolution should have been adopted. He also said that the resolution accusing Syria of having knowledge of the attack was tantamount to charging that U.S. officials knew in advance about the September 11 attacks.See also
- Assassination of Rafic HaririAssassination of Rafic HaririOn 14 February 2005, Rafic Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon, was killed, along with 77 others, when explosives equivalent of around 1,000 kg of TNT were detonated as his motorcade drove near the St. George Hotel in Beirut. Among the dead were several of Hariri's bodyguards and his friend...
- FitzGerald ReportFitzGerald ReportThe '"Report of the Fact-Finding Mission to Lebanon inquiring into the causes, circumstances and consequences of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, 25 February - 24 March 2005,"' better known as the FitzGerald Report, is the outcome of an inquiry, ordered by the United Nations...
- Lebanon–Syria relations
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1601 to 1700 (2005 – 2006)
- Mehlis ReportMehlis reportThe Mehlis Report is the result of the United Nations' investigation into the 14 February 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. The investigation was launched in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1595 and headed by the German judge, Detlev Mehlis...
- Special Tribunal for LebanonSpecial Tribunal for LebanonThe Special Tribunal for Lebanon is an international tribunal for the prosecution under Lebanese law of those responsible for the assassination of Rafic Hariri on February 14, 2005. The tribunal also has jurisdiction over a series of other attacks in Lebanon if they are proven to be connected...
- United Nations International Independent Investigation CommissionUnited Nations International Independent Investigation CommissionThe United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission was established in April 2005 by Security Council Resolution 1595 to investigate the assassination of Rafic Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon on 14 February 2005....