Al-Hoss: Our borders do not accept amendment, re-demarcation

Lebanese Premier and Foreign Minister Salim al-Hoss has asserted that the internationally recognized Lebanese borders will not be amended or re-demarcated in any agreement that might be reached with Israel.

In a statement he made on Thursday in Beirut al-Hoss said Lebanon's internationally-recognized borders do not accept amendment or re-demarcation, according to recognized UN resolutions, especially UN resolution 425, stressing Lebanon's determination to restore the seven villages annexed by Israel.

Al-Hoss' statements were made in reply to the claims made by the Israeli Army's chief of staff, Shaoul Moufaz, in which he said that the agreement with Lebanon will include the existence of new borders.

The Lebanese premier added that Lebanon is preparing a file on the direct and indirect losses inflicted from the continued and long-running Israeli aggressions.

Following his meeting with a delegation led by the chief of the consuls in Lebanon, al-Hoss added that Lebanon will submit this file during the peace process negotiations in case an invitation is addressed to it to take part.

Al-Hoss said that the direct compensation includes compensation for human and material losses Lebanon suffered in 1968 when Israeli warplanes bombarded Beirut International Airport. Al-Hoss added that a UN Security Council resolution was released then to compensate Lebanon, but the compensation was not paid by the Israeli side.

He added that among the indirect compensation were halting economic growth, economic losses and Lebanon's absence from playing its due role in the international arena since the beginning of the Israeli aggressions against it.