Washington, Paris lessen pressure on Lebanon
The US administration announced on Friday it had agreed with Paris to lessen their pressure on Lebanon concerning the Lebanese Hizbullah party.
The spokesman for the US Department Of State, Sean McCormack said that the foreign secretary Condalizza Rice telephoned her French peer Philip Doust Blazi to brief him on the results of her recent visit to the Middle East.
During the telephone call which was held on Wednesday, Rice in particular talked about the situation in Lebanon. McCormack said that at the meantime, the international group seeks to give support to the Lebanese government. The secretary of state discussed this matter with the French President in a telephone call. McCormack loomed that the two ministers agreed to limit their pressure on Beirut concerning the dismantling of Hizbullah weapons so as not to affect the confidence in the government of Foaud Siniora at the parliament.
Replying to a question on the Siniora statement in which he defended the right of Hizbullah to resist Israel, McCormack said he did not want to make comments on this at a time the parliament is voting for confidence on the government. He added the vote of confidence is expected by the end of this week and "the question of the forward progress in the Lebanese political space and the development of those political relationships is a matter for the Lebanese people.Ê Beyond that I'd hesitate to comment, as I know that there's a vote of confidence coming up for this government.Ê I think it's this coming weekend.Ê So in advance of that vote, I hesitate to offer any comments beyond that.Ê But we heard very clearly that the incoming Lebanese Government intends to fully live up to its international obligations, including Security Council 1559."
McCormack said yesterday "the Lebanese leaders that we spoke with said that they fully intend to live up to their international obligations and certainly we believe that they will. We think that right now is the moment to support the process of economic and political reform in Lebanon.Ê And it's an important moment for the Lebanese people, after actually having the opportunity after decades of Syrian military presence in their own country.Ê They have a real opportunity now before them to realize the aspirations of Lebanese people.Ê We saw that as people gathered in the streets of Beirut calling for elections, calling for freedom from the oppression of the Syrian military in their country. So right now the focus of the international community and the Secretary has spoken with the French Foreign Minister about this as well on the phone, is to focus on supporting this Lebanese Government as it moves forward on the process of economic and political reform and reflects the will of the Lebanese people for a better future."
