Egypt condemns Israeli aggression against Lebanon
Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said yesterday on whether Egypt held contacts, yesterday, regarding the escalating situation in Lebanon, Moussa noted there was a phone call with al-Shara, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and indicated there are ongoing contacts between Egypt and Lebanon.
Answering reporters' questions, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the continued aggressive attitude, adopted by Israel, while the position on the Arab side is restricted to threatening and issuing declarations, and whether there is an Arab support that could be offered to Lebanon, Moussa stated the Arab position on Lebanon is well-known.
He clarified that Egypt’s position has been declared in the joint communique, issued following the visit of President Hosni Mubarak to Lebanon, and has been reiterated in the joint communique, declared at the conclusion of President Emile Lahoud visit to Egypt. And in between, the Arab position has been defined in declaration of the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting in Beirut.
The Foreign Minister asserted that the Arab position will remain firm, in this respect.
"We are following up anyway Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as the basic point is the withdrawal of Israel, ending occupation in Lebanon. This should be achieved, and considered as a must, given that withdrawal is to be implemented in compliance with 425 resolution, withdrawal from all Lebanese territories, to the internationally recognized borders", Moussa elaborated .
He asserted that the Arab position should be maintained until the liberation of Lebanese territories. Until then, aggression against Lebanon, as what happened before, and during the last two days, will remain unacceptable and condemned.
"We are talking about protecting the land of Lebanon, accelerating withdrawal, and achieving Israeli withdrawal, which has been defined by dates", Moussa added .
We are not talking about what could be done, in case of continued occupation, but about bringing Israeli occupation to an end, Moussa reiterated.
He also noted the situation in the occupied land in Lebanon is a special one as a deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from occupied Lebanese territories has been set.
"The security issue is not that of Israel, but that of Israeli-Lebanese borders, not the security of Israel. It is not anyone's responsibility to protect the security of Israel. Israel's security, however, could not be maintained by violating other countries’ sovereignty" Moussa expounded.
Moussa underlined that at the end, all these procedures should be ending in withdrawal, without affecting civilians, or the infrastructure.
Asked whether Palestinian- Israeli negotiations have culminated into a crisis, Moussa indicated that news we are receiving on these negotiations confirm they have been swinging, and Israel has not offered anything new.