UNITED NATIONS, April 27 (KUNA) -- UN special envoy for the implementation of resolution 1559 Terje Roed Larsen late Wednesday said the UN cannot help Lebanon with its claimed sovereignty over the Shebaa farms before a territorial definition of the area with Syria.
Larsen was responding to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora who urged the UN in the Security Council last week to recognize Lebanese sovereignty over Shebaa farms following the delineation of its border with Syria.
"We have approached the Syrian government in order to delineate the border line in that region, so that the two governments will then deposit the border agreement with the UN, who will draw the appropriate consequences," Seniora told the council last week.
Larsen told reporters after briefing the council in a closed session on the Secretary-General's latest report on the issue that "If the Lebanese and the Syrians are both of the opinion that Shebaa farms are Lebanese, and we've seen indications lately that this indeed is their opinion, then they should open the way for border negotiations.
"To make a move for the UN on this issue is impossible for the time being, simply because everybody is talking about Shebaa farms but nobody has a territorial definition of what Shebaa farms is.
"Lebanon claims this area is Lebanese, but this requires a territorial definition and it requires an agreement between the two counties and the UN cannot intervene in these matters, but it takes two to tango and it needs good will from two parties.
"It requires that Syria and Lebanon sit down at the table as fast as possible to define in territorial terms on a map what the Shebaa farms is and then we can see what the UN can do about it."
Asked whether Israel, which occupies the farms, should withdraw first, Larsen said "if it is a question of withdrawing, you have to know what you are withdrawing from."
