Iranian Parliament Speaker arrives in Beirut
Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 2/6/1998

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri arrived in Beirut Thursday for a three-day visit aimed at discussing with Lebanese officials bilateral relations and the situation in the region.

The speaker arrived in Lebanon from Damascus, where he held talks with Syrian President Hafez Assad, at the head of a large delegation of Syrian officials and businessmen.

At Beirut airport, the Iranian envoy said he would discuss with Lebanese officials bilateral relations, including parliamentary and economic ties, in addition to latest developments in the Middle East.

He added that the aim of the visit, the first by an Iranian Parliament speaker to Lebanon, was to show support to the Islamic resistance fighting Israeli occupying forces in south Lebanon.

"This visit will strengthen the foundations of Iranian support to the resistance movement," Nateq-Nouri said upon arrival.

Iran has for a long time supported Hizbullah guerrillas in their fight against Israel. Nateq Nouri said his country fully supported the party's current leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Asked about fugitive cleric Sheikh Sobhi Tufeili, the Iranian official said Iran considered it a "Lebanese internal affair" that should be resolved by the Lebanese government.

"I hope officials in Lebanon will resolve this regretful incident according to their country's laws and fairly," he told reporters after a meeting with Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri.

Nateq Nouri was also scheduled to meet with Lebanese President Elias Hrawi and Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during the course of his visit, which ends Saturday.

He will also visit Qana, the south Lebanon village in which some 100 Lebanese civilians were killed in an Israeli artillery barrage in April 1996. Nateq Nouri will hold a press conference at the end of his visit at the Iranian embassy in Beirut.

Previous Stories:
  Military act against Iraq unjustifiable: Nouri   (2/5/1998)
  Syrian President reviews developments with Iranian Shoura chief   (2/5/1998)
  Syrian PA, Iranian Shoura Council chiefs stress strong ties   (2/4/1998)

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

Search