Lahoud, British minister stress implementation of UN resolution 425
Lebanese President Emil Lahoud said during his meeting on Sunday in Beirut with the British minister of state for foreign office and the commonwealth Peter Haine, the Lebanese stand firm in their commitment to the unconditional implementation of UN resolutions 425.
The Lebanese President stressed Lebanon's restoring back sovereignty over all its lands, including Shabaa farms, within its internationally recognized borders and the release of all Lebanese prisoners from the Israeli jails.
Lahoud said that just and comprehensive peace cannot be achieved without full withdrawal from the Golan and guaranteeing the rights of the Palestinian refugees to return back home.
For his part, the British minister Haine stressed his country's backing to Lebanon's desire to achieve peace and realize stability inside its lands, when Israel withdraws fully from South Lebanon in line with UN resolution 425. Haine expressed optimism at the talks he held in Damascus on Sunday, noting that hope still exists to achieve peace in the region.
He said " We will urged all parties concerned to swiftly end the talks because the entire region needs peace."
Haine stressed that the issue of the Palestinian refugees is critical.
As for the issue of Lebanese prisoners in the Israeli jails, the British minister said that this issue must be discussed but the priority is for ensuring a systematic, safe and full withdrawal of the Israeli troops to beyond the borders along with ensuring peace to the Lebanese people who suffered a lot at the end of the last century.
Earlier in the day, the Lebanese Premier and foreign minister Salim al-Hoss also discussed with Haine Middle East peace developments, the question of Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories and bilateral relations.
In a statement following the meeting, Haine welcomed Israel's complete withdrawal from Lebanon, according to UN resolution 425.
He noted Israel's complete withdrawal from South Lebanon according to UN resolution 425, will be an important landmark on the way towards a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
Following his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speakers Nabih Berri, Haine said in statements to journalists in Beirut that there is a 90% possibility to reach an agreement between Israel and Syria on the withdrawal from the Golan.
On Monday morning, in a pre-departure statement from Damascus to Beirut, Haine described his visit to Syria as successful. He said he held fruitful talks with the Syrian officials he had met with.
The British official expressed his hope of strengthening trade ties and economic relations between Syria and Britain. He also hoped to achieving a progress in the ME peace process.