UNITED NATIONS, April 26 (UPI) -- France and the United States say a new U.N. Security Council measure is needed to help Lebanon become entirely independent of neighboring Syria.
Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere of France said Wednesday a draft resolution directing Syria delineate its border with Lebanon and for Damascus to establish diplomatic relations with Beirut may be ready early next week.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora showed the council Monday "Lebanon has extended a hand to Syria," the Paris envoy told reporters.
"On two important issues which are very important for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the delimitation of the boundaries, it is important that Syria answer this request.
"We will see if they are genuine when they say they are in favor of the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon," de la Sabliere said. "We will prepare a text. It is likely that it will be a draft resolution ... by the beginning of next week."
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton also spoke with reporters after closed-door consultations.
"We think another resolution by the Security Council is warranted to highlight continuing Syrian failure to comply" with an earlier council resolution demanding all foreign forces leave Lebanon.
The United Nations confirmed April 26, 2005 that Syria had withdrawn its forces, but the border between the two remains unmarked and there are no diplomatic ties.
Following Siniora's appearance before the council, in which he described the reach-out, Syria Tuesday sent U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan a letter saying, "Pushing the Security Council by some parties to adopt new resolutions or statements will not calm down the situation in Lebanon or the region but, to the contrary, it will escalate the situation of instability and tension."
