BRUSSELS, 08/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 7 November, the General Affairs/External Relations Council took note, which "extreme concern", of the conclusions of the report by the UN investigation committee (led by Detlev Mehlis of Germany) on the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafic Hariri. "The conclusions of this report are very serious", as they clearly indicate that Lebanese and Syrian leaders were involved in the attack which cost Mr Hariri his life, the Council stated in the conclusions it adopted on Monday. The Counsel regrets the "clear indication" that Syria had not fully cooperated with the Mehlis committee and appeals to the Syrian authorities to help shed light on the incident "unconditionally". The Council also reiterated its commitment to the full implementation of Resolution 1559 of the Security Council on Lebanon, particularly as it relates to the disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militia, and the "strict respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and political independence".
The ministers urged Syria to take "immediate steps to promote regional stability", particularly by cooperating with the new "sovereign and legitimate" government of Lebanon, with a view to the implementation of Resolution 1559. Syria must also cease its support for groups hostile to the peace process in the Middle East and do all in its power to ensure that such groups with headquarters all representatives on Syria abstain from recourse to violence.