The European Parliament,

–  having regard the conclusion on Lebanon adopted at the 2846th External Relations Council meeting of 28 January 2008 in Brussels,

–  having regard the statement of the EU-Lebanon Association Council of 19 February 2008 in Brussels on the situation in Lebanon,

–  having regard the Declaration by the Slovenian Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the Middle Ease, and in particular on Lebanon,

–  having regard to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 of 11 August 2006,

–  having regard to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 of 2 September 2004

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly adopted in Athens on 29 March 2008,

–  having regard its previous resolution on Lebanon,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas, since 23 November 2007, when the former pro-Syrian President, Emile Lahoud, stepped down, the Lebanese Parliament has been unable to elect a new Head of State, because of bitter rivalry between pro-Syrian and anti-Syrian camps,

B.  whereas such a persistent political and institutional vacuum is liable to create further instability in a country which is slowly rising up from the last war, in 2006, against Israel,

C.  whereas all internal attempts to find a solution to the domestic political crisis have failed and Lebanon's presidential election has been postponed 19 times since September 2007,

D.  whereas since then several terrorist attacks have been perpetrated in Lebanon, resulting in the assassination of Internal Security Forces Captain Wissam Eid and four others on 25 January 2008, deadly fighting between the army and Shia protesters in southern Beirut on 27 January 2008, the bombing of a US diplomatic vehicle which killed three people and the aggression on UNIFIL, pointing to an alarming escalation of violence and political crime,

E.  whereas the European Union has been the leading donor for the reconstruction of the country since the 2006 war, has invested considerably in this country in political and economic terms and is deeply concerned by this persistent institutional deadlock,

F.  whereas the European Union has signed the Association Agreement with Lebanon and the EU-Lebanon Action Plan was adopted in January 2007 in order to promote the development of the country as a democratic, politically open and economically strong neighbour of the EU, and whereas the European Union is seeking to develop a closer relationship with Syria, which would provide for political dialogue, mutually beneficial trade and investment relations,

G.  whereas Hizbollah groups are continuing to launch rockets against the Israeli villages located around the border between the two countries and this is not helping to reduce tensions,

H.  whereas the activities of Hizbollah, with its private army, are blocking the stabilisation process and normal functioning of the Lebanese state,

I.  whereas the Crisis Watch Group considers Lebanon to be in a situation of Conflict Risk Alert – at particular risk of new or significantly escalated conflict in the coming month – and whereas the threat of a renewed civil war is apparent in different ways, including through street riots, mass demonstrations and clashes between pro-government forces and anti-government groups,

J.  whereas, despite an economic growth rate of 4% in 2006, the wars and the strong political tensions have caused a dramatic deterioration in the economic situation in Lebanon, where 25% of the population lives around the poverty threshold,

K.  whereas the recent wave of violence in Lebanon, generated by the Hizbollah-led opposition, which reacted against the government's decision to dismiss the chief of the security services of Beirut airport and to put under state control Hizbollah's telecommunications system, has killed 81 people in the last few days,

L.  whereas the agreement signed between the two parties, under the aegis of the Arab League, requires an end to the blockade of Beirut airport and the withdrawal of the Hizbollah armed troops from the streets of Beirut, and calls for arms not to be used to resolve any future conflict,

1.  Reiterates its support for democratic institutions in Lebanon and the legitimate government led by Prime Minister Siniora; is deeply concerned, however, by the recent deterioration in the political situation; in this connection, condemns the violent and armed reaction by Hizbollah against the democratic institution and calls on this armed party to respect the recent agreement and not to use arms in future in order to resolve political conflicts;

2.  Notes that the Cabinet's decision of Wednesday 14 May to reverse an order that Hizbollah's telecommunications system should come under state control and to dismiss the chief of security at Beirut airport stopped the violence and, given the circumstances, should be considered as wise; stresses, however, that serious problems remain and that the official army and government have been humiliated and are much weaker than before;

3.  Welcomes an agreement sealed by the Arab League mediation mission on Thursday, 15 May 2008 which ended fighting between ruling coalition supporters and Hizbollah, which is backed by Iran and Syria;

4.  Supports the Doha talks aimed at ending the political dispute which has seen the worst sectarian violence since the civil war, and welcomes the agreement reached on the appointment of army commander General Michel Suleiman - the consensus candidate - as President of Lebanon;

5.  Reiterates its commitment in support of the European Union's diplomatic action in maintaining Lebanon's sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity, unity and stability;

6.  Emphasises that peace in Lebanon is key to the region's stability; calls, therefore, for prompt implementation of the agreement reached on a consensus presidential candidate by means of a presidential election to be held without delay and in satisfactory conditions, based on national dialogue and majority consensus; reiterates its support for the three-point plan adopted in January, which includes the presidential election, the formation of a national unity government and the promulgation of a new electoral law;

7.  Calls for an internal dialogue among the different Lebanese factions and external diplomacy in order to achieve peace and stability;

8.  Condemns the Hizbollah leader, Nasrallah, for blaming Israel for the assassination of Hizbollah’s military leader Moghniye (who was wanted by the CIA and 42 states, world wide) and for his speech in the days following the assassination of Moghniye in which he considered this alleged by Israel as a declaration of open war, for which Hizbollah is ready;

9.  Urges the European Union to add Hizbollah to its terrorist list and stresses that this would be an important step toward disarming its militia and restoring the rule of law in Lebanon;

10.  Calls for the establishment of a special tribunal to try suspects in the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri;

11.  Remains strongly concerned that Syria will press to maintain its influence over Lebanon and may want to delay the establishment of the tribunal by refusing to cooperate on the elections;

12.  Calls on Lebanon and Syria to reinforce their bilateral dialogue and diplomatic relations in order to develop genuine harmony, in the interests of both their citizens and security in the region;

13.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN Secretary-General, the governments and parliaments of Lebanon, Israel and Syria, and the President and Legislative Assembly of the Palestinian Authority.