Al-Shara telephones al-Hoss, receives Larsen, US congressman
Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 6/1/2000

The foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, on Wednesday made a telephone call with the Lebanese Premier and foreign minister.

During the telephone call al-Hoss stressed that the UN secretary General Kofi Annan will not announce that UN resolution has been implemented unless he makes sure that the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon has become complete.

Al-Shara's expressed his total backing to the Lebanese position. He stressed that Syria will stand in backing the Lebanese demands to their lands, including the Shebaa farms and that there is no change in the Syrian position towards Lebanon's total right to its territories.

On Wednesday afternoon, the foreign minister received the special envoy for the UN secretary general Terry Larsen.

The meeting was attended by the deputy chairman of the political committee at the Syrian foreign ministry Youssef Shakkour, the deputy foreign minister Walid al-Muallim, the director general of the international organizations at the foreign ministry Klovis Khouri and an official at the UN special coordination office Andrew Glimore.

Larsen gave to al-Shara a review on the work process of the UN team in South Lebanon in order to make sure of the implementation of UN resolution 435 and of Israel's total withdrawal from all Lebanese territories.

Larsen stressed that the UN will not publish its reports until it will make sure that the withdrawal is complete from all Lebanese territories.

In this regard, the foreign minister stressed Syria's complete cooperation for the mission of the UN to totally implement UN resolution 425 and 426.

The foreign minister also stressed the need of UN implementation of implementing other UN security council resolutions pertaining to the Arab Israeli conflict especially UN resolution 242 and 338 so as to reach a just and comprehensive peace in the region and to achieve security and stability for all its peoples.

In a statement to SANA, al-Shara said " Mr Larsen, during the meeting raised the question of Shebaa farms and said that these farms are not under the control of UNIFIL ( working in South Lebanon), rather fall under UNDOF working in the occupied Golan. We have clarified to him ( Larsen) our position in that in both cases Shebaa farms should not be left under the Israeli occupation. Either it will come back to Lebanon, as Syria told the UN, or Israel to withdraw from these farms according to UN resolution 242 which urges Israel to withdraw from the occupied Golan.

The minister added " There would be no disputes between Syria and Lebanon on that Shebaa farms are owned by Lebanon."

For his part Larsen described his meeting with al-Shara, as good, positive and excellent and was held in a very friendly atmosphere.

He added that talks dealt with all issues pertaining to the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon according to UN security council resolutions 425 and 426 of 1978.

In a statement to SANA and to the Syrian TV Larsen added he agreed with al-Shara, to keep close contacts while the UN is proceeding its work to make sure of the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon.

Larsen explained that he told al-Shara that the UN and Lebanese technical experts will together inspect the borders from the air by using a UN helicopter.

Larsen expressed his thanks for the complete backing shown by the Syrian government towards the UN efforts to implement its responsibilities according to UN security council resolutions concerned.

Replying to a question on Israel's attempt to find out " gaps" in implementing UN security council resolutions 425 and the role played by the UN to withstand that, Larsen said that the UN is working with the Lebanese and Israeli sides in order to define the line that to be used to make sure of the Israeli withdrawal and that this line will be defined on the land and is carried out by technicians from Lebanon and the UN today to make sure that the withdrawal is made.

Larsen was asked about what is called by Lebanon as a "practical borders," and he replied " there is only one line which is the international borders."

Replying to another question on how the UN can back its resolutions already issued concerning the Israeli occupation of the Syrian occupied Golan heights especially UN resolutions 242 and 338, Larsen said that this point was stated as " a target point" in the recent report of the UN Secretary general of May 22, hoping that UN resolutions 242 and 338 will be implemented according to the land for peace formula.

Later in the day, the foreign minister received US Congress member "Ray LaHood."

Present at the meeting were the director of the office of the foreign minister Samir al-Qasir and the US ambassador in Damascus Rayan Crocker.

The two sides reviewed developments in liberated South Lebanon. They underlined the importance of exerting efforts to revive the ME peace process and to establish security and peace in the region in implementation of UN resolutions concerning Israel's withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories.

Previous Stories:
  Terry Larsen returns to Beirut for demarcation talks   (5/31/2000)
  Al-Shara welcomes Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon   (5/27/2000)
  Syria and Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon   (5/27/2000)

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