Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have been the subject of intense diplomatic activity in which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and I were all heavily engaged. On 10 August my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary flew to New York to work with international partners towards resolution of the outstanding difficulties. On 11 August the UN Security Council was able unanimously to adopt its Resolution 1701, which aims to secure the conditions for sustainable, durable ceasefire that would prevent a return to the conflict and the status quo that preceded it.
The UK worked hard to secure UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The cessation of hostilities thereby established has largely held. UK effort has since been focused on ensuring the ceasefire holds and a long term solution is developed. This includes assistance with the humanitarian and reconstruction needs of the Lebanese people, as well as enhancing the ability of the Government of Lebanon to take and maintain full control of its territory.
Ministers and senior officials have had regular dialogue with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia on the situation in the Middle East. During my visit to Jordan in July, I discussed the situation with the Regent His Royal Highness Prince Feisal, and Prime Minister Bakhit. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the issues with Egyptian President Mubarak and Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit during her visit to Egypt in September, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in September. We also took advantage of ministerial week at the UN General Assembly in September to discuss the issues with regional and other partners.
While Hezbollah is a Shia movement with a separate political and national agenda from Hamas and Al Aqsa Martyrs brigade, all these groups share a common hostility towards Israel and we believe there may be links between them. There have been reports that Hezbollah has provided individuals from militant groups in the West Bank with finance.
We are very concerned about the role of Syria and Iran. Through their support for Hezbollah, Iran and Syria encourage extremism, threaten the stability of the region and put peace in the Middle East further out of reach. We have called on Syria and Iran to stop their support for Hezbollah and end their interference in Lebanese internal affairs, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1680.
As we said in the UN Security Council on 21 July,
"Hezbollah does not act alone. As other speakers have said, behind it, lending support and giving direction, are Syria and Iran. Syria provides material support to Hezbollah and facilitates the transfer of weapons, including thousands of missiles, which appear to be supplied by Iran to Hezbollah. Ultimately, long-term stability will be possible only if Syria and Iran end their interference in Lebanese internal affairs, in accordance with resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006)".
Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah were the subject of intense diplomatic activity in which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and I were all heavily engaged. On 10 August, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary flew to New York to work with international partners towards resolution of the outstanding difficulties. On 11 August the UN Security Council was able unanimously to adopt its resolution 1701, which aims to secure the conditions for sustainable, durable ceasefire that would prevent a return to the conflict and the status quo that preceded it.
The UK worked hard to secure UN Security Council resolution 1701. The cessation of hostilities thereby established has largely held. UK effort has since been focused on ensuring the ceasefire holds and a long-term solution is developed. This includes assistance with the humanitarian and reconstruction needs of the Lebanese people, as well as enhancing the ability of the Government of Lebanon to take and maintain full control of its territory.
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr Dismore) today (UIN 89956).
Hezbollah and its backers, Syria and Iran, pose a very significant threat to the stability of the Middle East. Syria's and Iran's support for Hezbollah and its attacks on Israel encourage extremism and put peace in the Middle East further out of reach.
We urge the international community to continue to support the Government of Lebanon in implementing all UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), including 1559, 1680 and 1701, which are aimed at disarming Hezbollah, creating a Lebanon which is genuinely sovereign and democratic and in which the government controls the whole of its territory. The international community should continue to call on Syria and Iran to stop their support for Hezbollah and end their interference in Lebanese internal affairs in accordance with UNSCRs 1559, 1680 and 1701.
Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah were the subject of intense diplomatic activity in which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and I were all heavily engaged. On 10 August my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary flew to New York to work with international partners towards resolution of the outstanding difficulties. On 11 August the UN Security Council was able unanimously to adopt its Resolution 1701, which aims to secure the conditions for sustainable, durable ceasefire that would prevent a return to the conflict and the status quo that preceded it.
The UK worked hard to secure UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701. The cessation of hostilities thereby established has largely held. UK effort has since been focused on ensuring the ceasefire holds and a long term solution is developed. This includes assistance with the humanitarian and reconstruction needs of the Lebanese people, as well as enhancing the ability of the Government of Lebanon to take and maintain full control of its territory.
Urgent work has been undertaken to strengthen the UN Force in Lebanon in order to carry out the range of important new tasks set out in UNSCR 1701. Due to our current operational commitments elsewhere, we will not be able to provide ground troops. But the UK has sent HMS York to participate in the Interim Maritime Force and we would consider providing, in addition, two E3 AWACS and six Jaguar aircraft if needed. We are willing to respond positively to requests to use our Sovereign Base areas on Cyprus. We are also paying our share of the costs of the UN operation, on which we pay a premium as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.