Damascus Declaration foreign ministers call for Israel's pullback from South Lebanon
Regional, Politics, 6/6/2000

In their statement issued on Monday in Cairo in conclusion of their two-day meetings, the foreign ministers of the Damascus Declaration Signatory states have stressed their countries's solidarity with Lebanon and Syria.

The ministers praised the distinguished relations and coordination between Syria and Lebanon, relations which contributed to realizing national reconciliation in Lebanon and foil all attempts to undermine these relations. They stressed the importance of cohesion between the Syrian and Lebanese tracks in the peace process.

The minister also denounced the increased threats made by Israeli officials against Syria and Lebanon and held Israel responsible for any escalation of tension in the region.

The ministers extended greetings and appreciation to Lebanon's government and people for the victory attained as a result of the struggle mounted by the Lebanese national resistance and the government and people's solidarity.

They considered this victory as a victory for the Lebanese resistance, Syria and the Arab nation.

The ministers praised Syria's stances and its commitment to backing Lebanon and the march of national reconciliation among all Lebanese people.

The ministers expressed their support for the efforts made by the UN in South Lebanon to implement UN Security Council resolution 425. They demanded Israel to evacuate all Lebanese positions so as to complete the withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories.

The foreign ministers of the Damascus Declaration member- states stressed the need to continue these efforts in order to pressure Israel in order to implement UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and to withdraw from the Golan up to the June 4, 1967 border lines and from other occupied Arab territories.

The statement holds Israel's intransigence the responsibility for the stalemate on the Syrian track. They stressed their support for Syria's unwavering stand and just demands for the full restoration of its occupied lands.

The ministers commended the steadfastness of the Syrian citizens in the occupied Golan, expressing their support for this steadfastness.

It also stressed their backing for the realization of the Palestinian people's rights according to UN resolutions 242 and 338 and the Madrid terms of reference, including the establishment of an independent state of their own with Jerusalem as its capital and the right of the Palestinian refugees to return home according to the UN General Assembly resolution 194 of 1949.

The minister stressed that security in the region can be only attainable under a just and comprehensive peace. They indicated that the peace process is endangered as a result of Israel's intransigence and refusal to implement international legitimacy resolutions, which call for its withdrawal.

They called on the ME peace process cosponsors, the European Union and all parties supporting the ME peace process to intensify their efforts towards attaining this objective.

The ministers stressed their support to the Arab negotiations on all tracks with Israel in order to achieve a just and comprehensive peace, in line with the decisions of the Cairo summit of 1996 and the relevant decisions of the Arab League councils. They stressed the connection among the elements of peace, security, stability and development.

In this context, they renewed their call for the eradication of the Middle East from weapons of mass destruction, first and foremost nuclear weapons. They confirmed that the countries of the region with no exception should join the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty and abide by the rules of international inspection and monitoring They strongly demanded that Israel must join the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty NPT and put all its nuclear installations under international control.

They also stressed the importance of supporting and reactivating the role played by the Arab League through serious, sincere and creative work so as to be the true positive reflection of the joint Arab action.

They demanded the enhancement of Arab solidarity and called for reactivating inter- Arab relations.

The ministers underlined the need to back inter- Arab economic relations and cooperation, calling for holding a new meeting of the Damascus Declaration signatory states as soon as possible. They added that this meeting is aimed to specify the executive steps necessary for the reactivation of inter-Arab relations economically, culturally, scientifically and technically. It is also designed to crystallize mechanism and programs that contribute to the acceleration of the ideal application of the executive program of the agreement of facilitating and boosting trade exchange among the Arab countries " The Greater Arab Free Trade Zone."

The ministers expressed their sympathy with the sufferings of the brotherly people of Iraq and called on the Iraqi government to shoulder its responsibility in order to end this suffering.

They reiterated their countries's firm stands on the need to maintain Iraq's independence and territorial integrity.

The ministers recommended to solve the problems that obstruct the improvement of Arab - Iranian relations and they decided that the next meeting of the declaration will be held early next year in al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Previous Stories:
  Concluding meetings of Damascus Declaration countries in Cairo   (6/5/2000)
  Al-Shara in Cairo   (6/5/2000)
  Arab states called to help rebuild south Lebanon   (6/2/2000)

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