EU president calls for Israeli withdrawal, security

European Union President Jacques Poos on Friday called for an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon but added that the establishment of security on the border with Israel was a precondition to that happening.

Poos, who is also Luxembourg's foreign minister, made his comments after a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz during a short visit to Beirut, part of a Middle East tour.

Poos said security guarantees should be provided on the international border with Israel before any Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon.

"We are in favor of an Israeli withdrawal as long as security guarantees are provided and there is complete control of the Lebanese territories by the army to prohibit any operation outside the borders in the south," he said.

He added the EU wished to play a bigger role in the Middle East peace process and said the Union was ready to give assistance to Lebanon. He added, however that he did not think applying pressure on Israel through economic sanctions was a good idea.

"The term 'pressure' will bring negative reactions. I prefer the use of friendly persuasion or dialogue which will be more fruitful," he said.