June 30, 2010 - Naharnet - Salam to Security Council: Lebanon is with Force of Law and not Law of Force

Lebanon's ambassador to the U.N. Nawaf Salam urged all states to respect international law saying the force of law and not the law of force, which Lebanon supports, guarantees respect for human rights and equality among states.
Salam made his comment on Tuesday during a Security Council open debate on the rule of law.

To maintain peace and security, it was unlawful to use military option to deter and punish, and, as such, the ambassador welcomed the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, the International Court of Justice and other such bodies that contributed to the peaceful resolution of disputes.

However, he noted the selective application of certain rules, which threatened to render meaningless the concept of rule of law. One example were rulings directed at Israeli practices, where the Jewish state had annexed territories of other states, built settlements and committed transgressions against holy sites and engaged in acts of collective punishment and siege.

It had also made threats of war against Lebanon and committed daily violations of the country's sovereignty by land, sea and air, Salam told the Council.

He questioned why certain resolutions were implemented and others ignored, and why sanctions were announced against some but not others.

He noted that equality among states was one of the pillars of the international system, adding that the Council's credibility remained in question so long as there was no review of its structure or methods of work.

Still, Salam welcomed the Council's efforts to include the protection of civilians in its mandates and the need to uphold international humanitarian law. He welcomed its steps to create international and mixed tribunals to prosecute those who committed grave crimes, and looked forward to the activation of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to restore justice to the victims, without politicization.