Landmine maps: 60 mine fields are far from the borders; exchange of captives not linked to fate of Iranian diplomats
Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 2/7/2004

The visit of the Iranian foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi, to Beirut has opened the door wide before the second phase of the exchange negotiations between Israel and the Hizbullah Party. Many issues have been made clear including the desire of the main sides concerned not to tie files to each others.

Well-informed sources in Beirut explained that the deliberations coincided with Kharazi's visit to Lebanon concentrated on the Following first: Asking the Lebanese government and Israel to provide all information and evidence on the fate of the four Iranian diplomats, with a clear indication that the four men are held in Israel. The sources did not speak of "an important issue," the chairman of the phanalagists army Karim Baqradouni have, while information that the former teams in "the Lebanese Forces (group)" had was transferred to sides concerned.

Second: settling the issue of the Israeli pilot Arad is not Iran's responsibility. Rather the matter is left to Hizbullah and its special efforts in this regard. Therefore there should be no link the fate of the diplomat to that of Araad and other captives and missing.

Third: Iran's renewed confidence in Hizbullah party and the way of coordination with the state of Lebanon, and that the negotiations file administration is in Beirut, rather in any other location.

Kharazi concluded his official visit to Beirut by a reception held by the Iranian embassy on the Iranian revolution anniversary. He had met with the secretary of the Hizbullah party, Hassan Nasrullah, in a general meeting held in Haret Hreil after the "work" meeting was held on Thursday evening at the Iranian embassy in Beirut.

Kharazi also held a press conference in which he had outlined the main results of his visit, noting that Iran urges disclosing the fate of the diplomats and Lebanon owns important information on how they were transported to Israel, and that the Lebanese will make new investigations, including addressing questions to this effect to Samir Geagea in his jail. However, most reports say that the four Iranian diplomats were assassinated a short time after their detention.

Meantime, the commander of the Lebanese army, Michael Suleiman, yesterday received from the leadership of the Hizbullah party the file of the mines maps the Lebanese resistance got in the framework of the exchange deal with Israel.

Worthy mentioning that Israel had handed over following its departure from Lebanon in May 2000 maps for certain areas close to UNIFIL forces and refused to disclose other mines fields.

The file includes maps for more than 60 landmines fields. The area of each field ranges between 800 and 1200 square Kilometers and for areas situated in the depth not only on the border. Among these areas are landmines fields close to Jezzine, Marjyoun and the Western Bekaa.

The Lebanese army leadership will draw a study in collaboration with the unit financed by the United Arab Emirates in charge of continued dismantling of the landmines.

Worthy mentioning that some 176 Lebanese were killed or wounded because of these land mines since May 25, 2000, while some 36 experts or soldiers working in elimination of landmines were wounded or killed in dismantling these landmines.

Previous Stories:
  Kharazi holds Talks with Lebanese officials in Lebanon   (2/6/2004)
  Kharazi in Beirut to discuss fate of missing Iranian diplomats   (2/6/2004)
  Kharrazi highlights Lebanese Resistance   (2/2/2004)

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