Hariri: Syria's presence in Lebanon legitimate

Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri stressed that the presence of the Syrian forces in Lebanon is necessary and temporary.

In a statement to Kuwaiti daily "es-Seyassa" on Sunday, al-Hariri said Syrian-Lebanese cooperation forms a strong bulwark against Israeli vicious designs. He reiterated that Syria and Lebanon are two neighbors who are destined to continuous cooperation to foil the Israeli anti-Arab plots.

Meanwhile, in Amman, Lebanese Ambassador to Jordan, Adib Almuddin, confirmed that Syria's presence in Lebanon is legitimate and was at the request of the Lebanese and Arab agreement. He added that the presence of the Syrian forces will continue as long as Lebanon considers it necessary.

He said so last Sunday in a statement to Jordanian daily "al-Arab al-Youm." He affirmed that the Lebanese victory over the Israeli enemy in South Lebanon would not have been scored without the Syrian support to Lebanon and to the Lebanese resistance.

Almuddin stressed that the Arab-Israeli conflict will not end till the occupation forces withdraw from all the occupied Arab lands and the Arab rights are restored. He confirmed that a just and comprehensive peace cannot be achieved without settling the issues of occupied Palestine and the Syrian Golan.

He affirmed that the Lebanese resistance has the right to continue to struggle till every inch of the occupied Lebanese lands, including Shebaa Farms, is liberated.