Lahoud meets Maher; Lebanon starts today pumping of al-Wazzani water

The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud on Tuesday at Baabda Presidential palace received the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Maher who conveyed to him a verbal message from President Hosni Mubarak dealing with Egypt's position concerning current developments in the Middle East.

During the meeting discussions dealt with several issues of mutual concern as well as the overshadowed atmospheres of the Francophonic summit being held in Beirut.

In a statement following the meeting, Maher said that President Lahoud asked him to convey a reply message to President Mubarak including his assessment to the current situation and the importance of joint Arab efforts in the current conditions. The Egyptian foreign minister noted identical view points between the Lebanese and Egyptian sides on the need of protecting the interests of the Arab nation.

Maher stressed the need of making all efforts in the context of the UN and the international resolutions in order to avoid Iraq any military operations.

Concerning the Israeli threats against Lebanon because of using its right to use al-Wazzani river waters, Maher stressed Lebanon's unwavering right to its water resources. He stressed the need that the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon should give up the threats against Lebanon, the Arab states and the Palestinian people.

Maher, on the other hand, stressed Israel non- commitment to achieve peace in the Middle East according to the Arab peace initiative approved at the recent Beirut Arab summit.

On the other hand, the foreign relations committee at the Lebanese parliament said that Lebanon will start as from today (Wednesday) to increase the amount of water used from al-Wazzani river from 7 million cubic meters annually to 11 million cubic meters, and this will be part of the country's march of liberation and an assertion to the Lebanese legal position in using the al-Wazzani waters to meet the needs of southern Lebanon cities and villages.