Syrian FM, Larsen held constructive talks
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara on Sunday in Damascus received the UN secretary general's special envoy, Terje Larsen, and members of the accompanying delegation.
Talks dealt with results of Larsen's current tour in the Middle East, in light of the repeated Israeli aggressions against Lebanese civilians and infrastructure, aggressions which are in contradiction with the Israeli allegations of unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon.
Larsen reviewed the UN's role in implementing UN resolutions 425 and 426 concerning Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon.
The Syrian foreign minister stressed Syria's backing to the role played by the UN in implementing of the aforesaid resolutions and all UN resolutions concerned.
He stressed that the UN has to shoulder the responsibility in this regard by making UNIFIL forces do their tasks to foil any Israeli pretext aiming at undermining security, peace and stability in the ME region.
On the other hand, Larsen described his meeting with al-Shara as a constructive.
In a press statement made following these talks Larsen said: " we have discussed all matters pertaining to the UN two resolutions 425 and 426 concerning the Israeli pullback from South Lebanon."
He added: " I have expressed to al-Shara’ at the beginning of talks the UN appreciation for Palmyra's declaration which was released by the meetings of the foreign ministers of Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, especially the call made by the three ministers, through UNIFIL, to implement security tasks assigned to it according to UN resolutions 425 and 426.
He continued that the UN secretary general " has sent me and my accompanying delegation to the region in a mission for consultation on how to do so." He said the US conditional backing to the UN expressed in Palmyra's declaration gives us the support we need to carry out our enormous responsibilities towards the Lebanese people and government, according to these resolutions.
Larsen said that the UN secretary general will hand over a report to the security council including the results which were reached and recommendations on the plans and the requirements of the implementation of resolutions 425 and 426 and other all relevant resolutions.
Replying to a question whether or not Israeli will withdraw from Shabaa farms, Larsen said Israel has committed itself to withdraw completely in line with resolutions 425. He added that together with al-Shara, he shares the conviction that peace in the region can be only achieved through a successful outcome of a just and comprehensive settlement on the ground of all UN resolutions concerned including UN resolutions 242 and 338.
He hoped that the implementation of UN resolutions 425 and 426 would be a catalyst to renew the peace process in all tracks including the Syrian track. Larsen said that al-Shara ' confirmed Syria's support to the UN.
