Larsen urges Syria and Lebanon to demarcate borders
Lebanon-Syria-UN, Politics, 3/25/2006

Stressing the need for immediate dialogue between Lebanon and Syria, a senior United Nations envoy has called for their common border to be demarcated and embassies to be set up "as soon as possible."

Terje Roed-Larsen, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy for the implementation of Security Council 1559, which focuses on an end to foreign interference in Lebanon, arrived in Beirut Thursday night for talks with Lebanese officials ahead of Annan's third semi-annual report on the issue expected next month.

"I come at an important time in Lebanese history. For the first time, all Lebanese factions are sitting around one table, discussing subjects that had been taboo until only a few months ago, without any foreign participation or intervention," he said on arrival, lauding the ongoing National Dialogue between Lebanese political forces.

"What is of crucial importance now is that there is a dialogue between Lebanon and Syria on the relevant issues. The common border should be demarcated, in accordance with the agreement reached at the Dialogue, and embassies should be established as soon as possible."

Roed-Larsen praised Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri for initiating the National Dialogue, which began on 2 March, adding that there had been "very positive results to date."

Positive developments include an agreement reached among all Lebanese parties that formal diplomatic relations should be established and the border be demarcated between Lebanon and Syria, and that Palestinian militias outside the refugee camps will be disarmed within a period of six months.

"Two issues that are also of relevance to the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559, the matter of presidential elections and that of the disarmament and disbanding of Lebanese militias, are still to be resolved," he added.

Roed-Larsen, who has been on a whirlwind tour of the capitals of the permanent members of the Security Council and of a number of Arab states, will continue his talks in Beirut in the coming days.

Larsen said after a meeting he had held on Friday with the Lebanese foreign minister Fawzi Salloukh that the "two sides have to sit now and quickly and take a decision, adding that the UN will "support what they will agree on."

In remark to the complex of border demarcation at Shabaa Farms, Larsen said "the UN can not finalize an agreement over the border because this is the a matter of two sovereign states." He added the two sides ( Syria and Lebanon) are demanded to demarcate the borders, noting that Syria and Lebanon "can not do that unilaterally."

In later statements after his meeting with the Lebanese minister of justice Charles Rizq, Larsen stressed the need that the inter- Lebanese national dialogue is based on Taif accord and the UN security council resolution 1559. Larsen said that the priority is to alleviate tension between Syria and Lebanon.

Previous Stories:
  Syria on cooperation with Hariri investigation   (3/17/2006)
  Syria 'crucial' to Hariri inquiry: Brammertz   (3/17/2006)
  Sky News: Al-Assad assures full cooperation with UN inquiry   (3/17/2006)

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

Search