Syrian Envoy Denies Reports Of Illegal Arms

UNITED NATIONS — Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, yesterday denied that weapons were being delivered across the border from his country into Lebanon in violation of Security Council resolutions.

But as Mr. Jaafari said a U.N. report's claims about weapons smuggling were invalid because the report cited only American and Israeli intelligence, recipients of arms in a Palestinian Arab camp in the northern part of Lebanon, Nahr el-Bared, intensified their fight with the Lebanese army, killing four Lebanese troops.

The American ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, yesterday cited "clear evidence" that Fatah al-Islam, which is conducting the battle in Nahr el-Bared, as well as such groups as the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine-General Command, and Hezbollah, are receiving "arms transfers."

Several reports document transfers of arms across the Syria-Lebanon border in violation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah. Among them is a recent report to the council from Secretary-General Ban that documents weapons deliveries to Hezbollah, the PFLP-GC, and other Palestinian Arab groups.

"Virtually all the information in that report came from the government of Lebanon," Mr. Ban's special Middle East envoy, Michael Williams told reporters yesterday.

But according to Mr. Jaafari, the report was "based on Israeli intelligence information," as well as data from "another country," which he identified as America. Mr. Jaafari said that since the information on weapons smuggling was derived from Israeli overflights across the Lebanese border in violation of council resolutions, it was invalid. Since Israel is in a state of war with Syria, he said, "its testimony should not be taken into consideration."

Israel's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Daniel Carmon, said that, like all U.N. members, Israel would continue to supply information that it obtains about violations such as weapons smuggling. The flights, he added, would end once they are unnecessary for securing Israel's border. Meanwhile, Mr. Jaafari denied any secret negotiations between Damascus and Jerusalem. Recent press reports identified Turkey as the latest mediator, but Mr. Jaafari said the Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad has "cut down all rumors of secret talks" between the countries. Before such talks begin, he added Israel should "acknowledge" that it would withdraw from all of the Golan Heights.

In a separate issue, Mr. Williams expressed frustration yesterday that two Israel soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, remained captives of Hezbollah. Despite 20 meetings with Hezbollah officials, he said, "We have not so far been able to expedite the release of the two soldiers," adding, "I bitterly regret that, and regret also that we have not been able to establish proof of life."