Annan: exchanging prisoners is a positive development
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 1/29/2004

The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, described the deal of prisoners exchange between Israel and Hizbullah as a "positive development." He said that continued and comprehensive peace in the Middle East should include all tracks: the Palestinian, the Syria and the Lebanese.

In statements he had made in Brussels following talks with the Irish foreign minister, whose country is currently presiding over the current rotating presidency of the European Union, Annan said that a comprehensive and continued peace in the Middle east region based on UN resolutions and the land for peace formula is not only applicable to the Palestinian track, rather on the two other Syrian and Lebanese tracks."

The UN secretary general expressed his frustration that remarks to revive the Syrian track seemed as "a warning." Annan expressed his fears over the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, unless more urgent international aid is provided to alleviate the crisis of the Palestinian people. He said "we share concern over the economic; social and humanitarian situation of the Palestinians." He added "I appeal for giving additional support to them because I fear if the situation continues to see a real regression or rather a partial collapse for the Palestinian authority."

Annan said that the UN and the European Union are deeply concerned over the situation in the Middle East and the crisis which obstructs the realization of any progress in the Radmap peace plan. He added "we need to find the means to break the stalemate, means to bring the two sides together at the table of negotiations."

Previous Stories:
  Israel publishes names of released prisoners according to prisoners exchange agreement   (1/28/2004)
  Hizbullah, Israel confirm completing prisoners deal   (1/26/2004)
  Lahoud deplores Israeli provocations in South Lebanon   (1/21/2004)

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