Fontaine: Israel does not want peace

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Thursday in Beirut received the chairperson of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontaine, and members of her accompanying delegation.

Talks dealt with Middle East peace process developments and the European efforts exerted in order to resume negotiations on all tracks and the results of the Israeli aggression against the electricity power stations earlier this month.

Fontaine stressed that she did not feel during her visit to Israel a clear desire to revive the peace negotiations in the Middle East.

In a press conference she held on Thursday evening at the headquarters of the Lebanese Parliament, Fontaine said, "There was the element to reach peace during this year and every body wants a comprehensive solution. Our preoccupation is that stances are not coupled actions and there are things taking place that should be condemned, including the bombardment of civilian installations."

She asserted a European desire to provide the Middle East peace process a success, saying that threats made by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister David Levy are not even worthy to be commented on.

She strongly denounced the Israeli bombardment of the Lebanese civilian installations, stressing the EU's commitment to Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

She asserted the determination of the EU to help Lebanon and develop relations with it in the context of the partnership association agreement through a program provides a contribution of 184 million euros.