Straw calls on Syria to establish formal relations with Lebanon
Syria-Lebanon-USA, Politics, 1/5/2006

The British foreign office secretary Jack Straw has called on Syria to build diplomatic relations with Lebanon and to fully recognize Lebanon as an independent and sovereign state.

In a joint press conference with the Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora, Straw said that Syria has to show good offices by exchanging ambassadors and recognizing Lebanon as an independent state the same it recognizes the UK.

Straw who had arrived in Beirut on Wednesday stressed his country's support for Lebanon causes and the Lebanese people. Straw visit is considered his first since the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri.

Straw also indicated the commitment of the UK to the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1595 as well as implementing the UN investigation to the assignation of Hariri.

Straw dealt with the need of dismantling the weapons of all militias inside Lebanon including Hizbullah.

Straw denied the existence of a policy to change the regime in Syria on the ground that the issue of the future government is left for the Syrian people, but he stressed that what Britain wants this government to meet its obligations including cooperation with the UN probe on al-Hariri assassination.

Concerning the statements of the Syrian vice president Abdul Halim Khaddam implicating Syrian interest in the assassination, Straw said that these statements are in line with the report submitted by Detlive Mehlis to the UN security Council.

Replying to a question on whether Syrian refuses to the call of the UN committee to interrogate President Bashar al-Assad and his foreign minister Farouq al-Sharaa, Straw said he will not prejudge events and the matter will be left for the UN Security Council.

For his part, Prime Minister Siniora said he had discussed with Straw the conditions in Lebanon, including border demarcation, Shabaa Farms, the Lebanese detainees in Israel, the land mines maps and the UN investigation into Hariri murder.

Siniora added that the talks also dealt with UN resolution 1559, noting Lebanon's unwavering stances to honor UN resolutions, but in this regard, Lebanon is under dialogue among the Lebanese in order to find out a common ground towards the resolution, he said.

Previous Stories:
  Damascus agrees Sharaa to be interrogated by UN committee   (1/5/2006)
  Lebanon rejects Israeli plan to split al-Ghajar village in two   (1/4/2006)
  Annan urges Syria cooperate with investigation Commission   (1/4/2006)
  US calls Syria to collaborate with UN investigation   (1/3/2006)
  US, France pressure Syria, call for expanded investigation into Lebanon killings   (12/15/2005)
  Thousands of Syrians demonstrate against US pressures   (11/25/2005)

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