Syrian President confers with Lebanese parliament speaker
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 4/3/1998

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad on Thursday received the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri. Talks dealt with several issues of concern to Syria and Lebanon and developments in the region in light of Israeli policy.

President Assad held a four-hour meeting with Berri during which talks dealt with regional developments and the Israeli conditional proposal for withdrawal from south Lebanon, Al-Safir daily reported. Lebanese official sources told the daily, following Berri's arrival in Beirut, that talks also dealt with "the importance of a united Lebanese stand in confrontation of the conspiracy which targets all Arabs."

Sources close to Berri said: "Talks dealt with the need to settle inter-Lebanese disputes," adding the Israeli proposal requires the utmost resistance.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese Cabinet announced its rejection of the Israeli withdrawal proposal because it relates Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon to preconditions. The Lebanese Cabinet viewed the Israeli announcement as part of a political diplomatic campaign that has the appearance of withdrawal but hides an attempt to drag Lebanon into negotiations on security arrangements.

The Cabinet discussed several ideas in the context of a plan to confront the Israeli proposal. The plan awaits the return of President Hrawi from the United Arab Emirates and the Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz from the Vatican.

Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said Lebanon cannot grant Israel security guarantees in the absence of a bilateral peace agreement. "As far as there is no peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon, Israel government cannot ask us to be bound to make security arrangements," Hariri said.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese-Syrian summit in Damascus   (3/14/1998)
  UN Chief to convey an Israeli message to Lebanon concerning Israel   (3/11/1998)
  Syrian foreign minister rebuffs Israeli withdrawal offer   (3/5/1998)

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