Annan to meet with Hizbullah secretary today
Lebanon, Politics, 6/20/2000

In a step considered the first of its kind, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today met the secretary general of the Hizbullah Party Hassan Nasrullah.

The central media unity of the Hizbullah party confirmed news on the meeting, while a source at the UN said earlier that the meeting was fixed at the request of Annan's himself and it meeting will be at ( 9:00 a.m. Lebanon local time ).

The same source refused to deny or confirm that Annan had a prior consent from any state to meet with the first official for the "Islamic resistance" which was always accused of being a "terrorist" organization.

Annan listen to Nasrullah's view point concerning its position on Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon and considering this withdrawal as incomplete. A matter which means continued resistance until the Lebanese government agrees to considering UN resolution 425 completed implemented.

The UN chief heard insistence from the Hizbullah side on the need to release prisoners and detainees in the Israeli jails as a main precondition coupled with the precondition of complete Israeli withdrawal from the Lebanese territories.

To this effect, western diplomatic sources indicated that Annan might make a mediation between Israel and Lebanon through which Lebanese detainees will be exchanged for the remains of Israeli soldiers killed earlier in Lebanon and include among others the Israeli pilot Ron Arad.

Previous Stories:
  Security Council does not adopt verification report concerning Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon   (6/19/2000)
  Golanese detainees are proud of South Lebanon liberation   (6/8/2000)
  Israel extends detention of two Lebanese hostages   (5/30/2000)
  Nasrullah and the Israeli pilot   (5/30/2000)
  On the release of the five Lebanese Hizbullah members   (12/28/1999)

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