Lebanon stresses the legitimacy of resisting occupation
The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud has stressed Lebanon's commitment to its strategic options in maintaining solidarity with Syria and supporting the Lebanese national resistance, stressing that the stability Lebanon enjoys at the meantime is a result of these options.
In a speech he made on Wednesday, addressing the Lebanese people on the occasion of the 58th anniversary of Lebanon's independence, the Lebanese President renewed the Lebanese position in refusing to give Israel security guarantees outside the framework of the just and comprehensive peace based on implementing international legitimacy resolutions which state Israel's withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories and the right of the Palestinian refugees to return back to their territories.
Lahoud has called on the international community to hurry to solve the Middle east question and to resume peace negotiations on the ground of international legitimacy resolutions and the Madrid terms of reference, stressing that only just and comprehensive peace is capable of guaranteeing security and stability in the region.
As for the incidents of September 11 in the US and the followed incidents, the Lebanese President reiterated Lebanon's rejection to terrorism in all its forms and his call on the need to make a distinction between legitimate resistance of occupation and terrorism which is an evil.
Lahoud showed complete readiness to contribute and take part in every attempt to fighting terrorism under the umbrella of the UN which should define clearly the concept of terrorism.
The Lebanese President stressed the legitimacy of the Arab right to resist the Israeli occupation, stressing that Israel which was built on terrorism is practicing it continuously and regularly through its continued occupation of the Arab lands and pursuing the policy of assassination, expulsion of people, destroying of houses and rejection to abide by international legitimacy resolutions concerned.
The Lebanese President also stressed the need of dealing with the reasons behind terrorism especially repression, injustice and various regional conflicts, stressing that Lebanon's position stems from Lebanon's legitimate rights.
He stressed this position until Israel completes its withdrawal from the Lebanese territories and the fate of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is dealt with.
