Annan thanks Mubarak for supporting peace efforts
Egypt, Politics, 6/20/2000

Terming as "very good" his talks Monday morning with President Hosni Mubarak, UN Secretary-General kofi Annan said that they naturally dealt with the situation in Lebanon and the Israeli forces' withdrawal from the South Lebanon.

In a statement to the press following his meeting with the President, the UN Chief said that talks also covered the Middle East peace process and the latest developments of the situation between Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as other issues relevant to the International Organization.

He said that he thanked the President for his support and advice all along contacts and talks with the Israelis and Lebanese on Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese territories.

On Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon, Annan said that a new border line has been demarcated between the two sides.

He said that he telephoned Israeli Premier Ehud Barak Monday morning, stressing that everyone should respect that line. He pointed out that he does not want any violations of that line.

"The UN forces stationed there should be notified of any breach," he said.

He added in this respect that the international forces were patrolling the area.

The UN Chief expected that all parties would respect the new border line and not breach it.

On the role of the international organization in support of negotiations on the Israeli-Palestinian track, Annan said that the UN supports peace efforts and Terje Roed Larsen was his personal Middle East peace envoy till he moved to Lebanon to supervise the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon.

Larsen was residing in Gaza and cooperating with the Palestinian and Israeli authorities, he added.

"Despite that the UN does not play the main role yet it supports efforts exerted to achieve a permanent peace either for the Palestinians or the Syrians," he said.

"The UN contribution is not confined to the implementation of the Security Council resolution 425," he said, hoping that it would cooperate with all parties in implementing the UNSC resolutions 242 and 338 for achieving just and overall peace in the region .

The UN will contribute to efforts to break the present negotiations deadlock" which won't continue forever," he said.

In reply to a question on the role that the UN could play to break the present deadlock on the Syrian -Israeli track ,Annan said that the UN exerted strenuous efforts to bring the two parties to the negotiation table.

He added that he is making contacts with the American side and that he will head for Syria following his visit to Lebanon.

He expressed hope that a meeting would be held with the new Syrian leadership in Damascus.

He underlined that the basis of the UNSC resolutions 242 and 338 are the basis of the solution and that the UN was there since the beginning and will do its utmost to ensure that peace in the area is achieved.

In reply to a question on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia, he voiced hope that the two parties would respect the agreement they signed.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak meets Annan on peace process   (6/19/2000)
  Moussa talks with al-Hoss before meeting Annan   (6/19/2000)
  Israeli Knesset member meets Moussa; urges four-way summit   (6/15/2000)

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