Lahoud: no justification for Powell's visit if it is for making threats
Lebanon-USA, Politics, 5/3/2003

The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud said that there is no justification for Powell's visit to the region if his administration decides to practice "the logic of force" towards Syria and Lebanon.

However, Powell will arrive in Beirut at 1 p.m. ( local times ) and will hold immediately a short meeting with Lebanese foreign minister Jan Obeid and the two will be moving to the Lebanese Baabda Presidential palace where a plenary meeting will be held in the presence of the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud, the speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and prime minister Rafic Hariri.

On the other hand the Lebanese President stressed that the redeployment of the Lebanese army on the southern borders of Lebanon and the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon will be two spontaneous results of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region.

Lahoud added that there is no justification for the visit of the US secretary of state to the region if his administration is intent on the "logic of force " against Lebanon and Syria, because threats does not need visits, rather to be notified off directly by telephone.

Lahoud indicated in statements that Lebanon is ready for dialogue according the bases of "the logic of justice which ensures for us not settling the Palestinians in Lebanon, restoring back the occupied Shebaa farms and returning the Golan back to Syria." He stressed that Lebanon and Syria are persistent not to be subjected to any demand that does not meet the interests of the people of the two states and their vital interests.

He expressed his conviction that the US wants to initiate a dialogue with Lebanon and Syria because it is serious to reaching peace in the region, but the Israeli prime minister does not want peace. He disclosed "we want to facilitate the mission of the Americans within principles and we want peace that preserves our rights."

Previous Stories:
  Lahoud confers with US ambassador to Lebanon   (4/28/2003)
  Washington rejects implicitly Lebanon's contact with Canada over Hizbullah   (1/4/2003)
  Washington recommends citizens to be cautious in Lebanon   (12/10/2002)

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