On Annan's reports over Shebaa farms
Lebanon, Politics, 5/20/2000

Western Diplomatic sources told the Lebanese daily al-Nahar that the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan received just few hours after he had received a telephone call from the Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss, the report of his delegate to the Middle East Terry Larsen.

The sources said that the report which will Annan will submit to the UN Security Council will be exactly the same report prepared by Larsen because the latter was the one who collected information directly from the representatives of the countries concerned with the Israeli withdrawal.

Annan will distribute the report to members of the UN Security Council on Monday and the Council will hold a special meeting on Lebanon on Tuesday.

The sources indicated that the UN Security Council will hold a close-door meeting on Wednesday during which its members will ask Larsen detailed questions and then the decision to be taken to this effect by the UN security council will be released on Thursday or Friday.

After that Larsen will head to the region in a second tour and this was in contradiction to what had been announced in New York on Thursday in denying this second tour for Larsen.

This second tour to be held by Larsen will be an executive one for the decision to be taken by the UN Security Council.

However, sources at the UN did not rule out that Annan will be himself visit the region if developments necessitate that.

According to Lebanese official sources al-Hoss on Friday made a telephone call with Annan in which he stated that the Lebanese position demands israel's withdrawal from all Lebanese territories according to UN resolution 425, including the Shebaa farms.

Al-Hoss reviewed with Annan the recent documents Lebanon sent to the general secretariat of the UN which back Lebanon's right to have sovereignty on this area and therefore to have this area ( Shebaa farms) included by the UN resolution 425.

On Thursday a direct stand to this issue was announced by the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak when he considered that Lebanon has no sovereignty over these farms.

During his tour on a base for the Israeli army in the West bank, Barak said " Shebaa farms are Syrian territories on any map I have so far seen." he reiterated his commitment to return back the Israeli soldiers from Lebanon by July, within seven or Eight months " and we will do that."

For his part the Israeli army chief of staff Gen. Shaoul Mofaz said the Israeli government does not rule out the possibility of launching attacks against Syrian interests in lebanon in light of the escalation in the acts of violence which precede Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon.

Previous Stories:
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  Ebeid says relations with Lebanon arespecial   (5/18/2000)

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