Lebanon continues diplomatic moves to explain the dimensions of the Israeli aggression
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 2/12/2000

Lebanese Premier and Foreign Minister Salim al-Hoss on Friday continued his political moves to explain the dimensions of the recent Israeli air strikes against Lebanon and their results.

Al-Hoss on Friday in Beirut received the ambassadors of permanent member and non-permanent member states accredited to Lebanon and informed them of Lebanon's position regarding all events that took place.

Al-Hoss asked the ambassadors for their governments' backing to prevent Israel from carrying out more aggressions against Lebanon as well as to strongly condemn the recent Israeli aggressions against Lebanon.

Later in the day al-Hoss also received the ambassadors of the European group and Latin America for the same purpose and stressed to them Lebanon's adherence to the April Understanding in content and form.

Replying to a question, al-Hoss denied news that Lebanon had received any official request to amend the April Understanding. He said, "All what has been said is what is published in the newspapers regarding this issue."

On the reason why Lebanon has not resorted to the UN Security council, al-Hoss said " our friends we had consulted with on Thursday recommended us not to go to the UN security council of fears that we will be surprised by a UN security council resolution that treats equal the victims which is Lebanon and the aggressor which is Israel. Besides long discussions on this issue might lead to concluding a new UN resolution that might weaken UN resolution 425."

Answering another question, the Lebanese Prime minister said that the April Understanding committee is a five-member committee which includes the US, France, Syria, Lebanon and Israel, adding that the importance of this committee stems from the fact that it includes the US and France who alternatively have its rotating presidency. " Therefore, we cannot say it is a Lebanese or an Israeli committee."

For his part the US ambassador to Lebanon David Satterfield said following his meeting with the permanent members at the UN security council and al-Hoss that his country is committed, the same as Lebanon, in achieving a progress in the work of the April committee. He added that violence and killing do not comply with the achievement of peace.

Previous Stories:
  Majority of Israelis favor withdrawal from Lebanon, poll   (2/11/2000)
  Lebanon inform Arab, world parliaments on Israeli practices   (2/11/2000)
  Barak's mini-Cabinet summit takes secret decisions concerning moves against Lebanon   (2/11/2000)

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