Abul-Gheit urges foreign parties hands off Lebanon
Egypt-Lebanon, Politics, 4/16/2007

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit on yesterday underlined the importance that foreign parties should keep hands off Lebanon. Speaking to reporters, Abul-Gheit explained that interference in Lebanon's affairs could lead to the danger of confrontation.

As for the issue of forming an international tribunal probing the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic al-Hariri, Abul-Gheit highlighted the importance of the Lebanese approval of such a tribunal, saying lack of consensus on this score would jeopardize Lebanon's stability.

Abul-Gheit said he received a phone call on Friday from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who briefed him on his intention to visit Syria for talks on the international tribunal and to send counselors for legal affairs to Lebanon for talks on the same subject.

He hoped these contacts and meetings would lead to a breakthrough in the Lebanese stance, saying the whole situation depends on the Lebanese and their ability to give up some of their narrow interests here and there.

Meantime in a related area, the Head of the Future Parliamentary Bloc in Lebanon MP Saad Hariri received today the United Kingdom Ambassador to Lebanon Frances Mary Guy and discussed with her the developments in Lebanon and the region, and the bilateral relations. After the meeting, the British Ambassador said "We discussed the possibilities on the issue of establishing the International Tribunal: the opportunity that is offered by the visit of Nicolas Michel this week as a hope to find a Lebanese solution, and the possibility of the need to move to Chapter 7 of the United Nations if there is no other solution."

Asked "Do you think there will be a need to go for Chapter 7?" UK's ambassador said "I am not wishing to predict. There is now an opportunity that is offered by the United Nations to solve the issue through another way. I think that we should concentrate on using that opportunity."

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