UNITED NATIONS, May 17 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council wants Syria to take measures against cross-border arms movement, delineate borders and establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon.
"Such measures would constitute a significant step towards asserting Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence and improving the relations between the two countries, thus contributing positively to the stability in the region," said a U.N. Security Council resolution passed Wednesday by the panel of 15 in a 13-0 vote.
China and Russia abstained.
The resolution noted with regret that the disbanding and disarming of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias had still not been implemented as required by the council's earlier Resolution 1559 passed in September 2004. It voiced concern there had been arms movements into Lebanon's territory for militias over the last six months.
One of the main provisions of the earlier resolution was attained last year with the withdrawal of Syrian troops from its smaller neighbor, where they had been stationed since the Lebanese civil war that began in 1975.
However, the panel regretted other provisions of resolution 1559 had not yet been fully implemented. They include militia disbandment, extension of government control over all Lebanon, strict respect of the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence, and free and fair presidential elections conducted according to the Lebanese constitutional rules, without foreign interference.
The latest resolution welcomed the decision of the Lebanese national dialogue to disarm Palestinian militias outside refugee camps within six months, and called for further efforts to disband militias and restore fully the Lebanese Government's control over all national territory.
