United Nations – The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution Wednesday pressing Syria to establish diplomatic relations and set its border with Lebanon, which it said would be “a significant step” to asserting Beirut’s sovereignty.
The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States, France and Britain, was approved on a 13-0 vote, with Russia and China abstaining.
Moscow and Beijing have argued that the resolution is not needed and would constitute U.N. interference in bilateral Lebanese-Syrian relations.
Syria withdrew its forces from Lebanon last year, ending a 29-year occupation after mass demonstrations that blamed Damascus for the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Syria has denied involvement.
The Lebanese government and a national dialogue of all parties in the country have called on Syria to establish diplomatic ties with Beirut and mark their border, which includes the disputed Chebaa Farms region.
The resolution said the Security Council “strongly encourages the government of Syria to respond positively to the request made by the government of Lebanon, in line with the agreements of the Lebanese national dialogue, to delineate their common border … and to establish full diplomatic relations and representation.”
