Lahoud: Israel is professional in terrorism in its ugliest forms; Chirac: we reject use of force
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 10/19/2002

The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud yesterday opened the 9th summit of the Francophonic states in the presence of heads of states and governments and the representatives of more than 55 countries and 2500 invitees and crowded number of Arab and foreign media.

In his inaugural speech, the Lebanese president said that this summit is being convened in a region the greatest repressive acts in history have been ongoing since one century. he said that since one hundreds years, the number of non Arab population in Palestine was just several thousands and has recently become almost four million "in an entity created by pursuing a policy of settlement and confiscating lands of others by force, until our capital Beirut, changed things ... thanks to the Lebanese national resistance and the support of the Arabs, Lebanon was able to liberate the greatest part of its lands, but the Israeli occupation is still there in parts of south Lebanon, in the Golan and in the Palestinian territories.

The Lebanese president stressed that at a time when the civilized states seek to eliminate terrorism, the Israeli occupation continues to "master terrorism in its ugliest form, namely the state terrorism in massacres committed against the original people of Palestine."

President Lahoud said that the most dangerous of the Israeli violations of the international law is represented by the measure of considering Jerusalem as a capital for Israel, and the US President ratification of the law which permits the transfer of his country's embassy to the holy city. A matter which is considered as an unaccepted violation of the international law.

He added that among the examples on the double standard policy is what is known as US "Syria accountability" congressional bill. He explained " regrettably, this unjustified bill can be understood through the traditional American weakness towards the pressure groups which support Israel.."

President Lahoud also stressed Lebanon's determination to use its water resources in order to ensure the vital needs of its people, according to the rules of the international law.

He stressed rejection of the unilateralism towards solving international conflicts. He called for commitment to the international organization in order to solve conflicts including the current Iraqi crisis. He said in this respect "we commit to the decision taken unanimously at the Beirut's Arab summit which denounces any foreign military action against any Arab country and in particular Iraq."

In a speech he delivered, the French President Jacques Chirac said " Here in Beirut and for the sake of developing our people and for a better world, I hope to serve the issue of the dialogue of cultures and the cause of peace and democracy and the question of progress and sustainable development."

The French president added "here in Beirut, we confirm our deep commitment that resorting to force in the contemporary world cannot be the last resort, and is not accepted only through the legitimate self defense or though a decision issued by the international references concerned."

Chirac called on the secretary general of the Francophony to work for convening a ministerial conference aiming at installing means of a dialogue and a work in the service of peace.

Chirac added "we have to work more in order to solve the differences and achieve the objectives of sustainable development and fight against diseases, and poverty and for environmental balance and to have the humanitarian spirit in Globalization."

In his speech, the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa stressed that "Israel responded to the 'brave' Arab peace initiative, approved by the Arab leaders in Beirut, by launching an open and comprehensive war against the Palestinian people; and their leadership and by launching threats of attacking Syria and Lebanon and foiling all Arab and international rules, the UN charter and human rights."

Previous Stories:
  Berri: we will not give up one inch of soil nor drip of water; Lebanon inaugurates water project   (10/17/2002)
  Lahoud meets Maher; Lebanon starts today pumping of al-Wazzani water   (10/16/2002)
  Francophonic council starts today: Middle East, Ivory Coast and terrorism, issues   (10/15/2002)
  Assafir: Lebanon denies US request to postpone pumping al-Wazzani river water   (10/12/2002)
  Lahoud starts visit to Yemen and Oman, tomorrow   (9/27/2002)
  Hammoud, Moussa discuss meetings of the Arab follow up committee   (8/27/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search