Lahoud confers with Weldheim, gets a message from Khatami
Lebanese President Emil Lahoud on Thursday in Beirut received Austria's former President and UN former UN secretary general Kurt Weldheim. Discussions dealt with the role should be played by the UN to implement enacted resolutions.
During the meeting, Lahoud stressed that the big challenge the UN is facing lies in its ability to regain the confidence of the international community through implementing all its resolutions and its execution not to be selective. A matter which undermines the neutrality of this international organization.
The Lebanese president indicated the UN responsibility to preserve the just rights and peace opportunities and to honor its resolutions. A situation which forces the countries concerned to attain their rights by themselves, thus endangering world peace and security and violate the basics of the international system which is based on justice and equality and the UN terms of reference.
President Lahoud commended Weldheim achievements at the level of attaining peace in the world despite the pressure he underwent to especially from Israel and the Zionist movement and considered him a friend to the Arabs and their rightful causes especially that of Palestine.
Meantime, the Lebanese President on Thursday received a message from the Iranian President Muhammad Khatami conveyed by the deputy chairman of the Islamic Shoura council in Iran Muhammad Riza Khatami.
During the meeting discussions dealt with current conditions at the regional and international levels in light of developments in the Middle East.
The Lebanese President commended the support given by Iran to Lebanon in various fields and the Iranian official stressed that the Iranian attitude is to support peoples and governments of the region especially Lebanon's will, people and government. He said that the Iranian President will visit Beirut very soon.
Khatami condemned the Israeli massacres against the unarmed Palestinians.
For his part Weldheim stressed that negotiations are the best means to contain developments taking place in the region.