Lahoud: Lebanon is persistent to restore back rights to Shebaa farms

The Lebanese President Emil Lahoud yesterday discussed with the personal envoy of the UN secretary general to south Lebanon Steven De Mistora the increasing Israeli violations of the Lebanese sovereignty.

Discussions also dealt with current developments at the regional and international levels especially the American military build up in the region and the massacres committed by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian people.

Following the meeting, De Mistora said he had made with President Lahoud an evaluation to the situation, noting that he learnt from the Lebanese President about Lebanon's position upon his travel to New York to hold a consultation meeting with the UN chief and other UN officials to debate forthcoming developments.

The Lebanese president on the other hand stressed yesterday during his meeting with consuls accredited to Lebanon that the positive response Iraq had with the work of the UN inspectors should be met by an international care to implement UN resolutions concerned.

The Lebanese president renewed Lebanon's commitment to the foundation of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. He said that Lebanon has not changed its stances and convictions despite the overwhelming pressuring atmospheres following the incidents of September 11 and is still committed to its rights and clinging to achieve them. He explained that Lebanon as a result of these commitment could get part of its right to al-Wazzani spring waters and will continue to call for taking its complete rights of these waters, besides Lebanon's continued right to liberate the occupied Shebaa farms from the Israeli occupation, to release the prisoners held in the Israeli jails and implement UN resolutions provide for achieving a just and comprehensive peace.