Hrawi reiterates commitment to Madrid terms of reference

Lebanese President Elia Hrawi has stressed his country's commitment to principles on the basis of which Lebanon joined the Middle East peace process provided for in the implementation of UN resolutions, foremost 425 and land for peace formula.

Addressing a conference for a delegation from the International Journalists Federation President Hrawi added " we went to Madrid to ask the restoration of our lands and application of international legitimacy resolutions." He asserted Lebanon's rights to resistance to liberate the South and Western Bekaa from the Israeli occupation.

Hrawi demanded Israel to withdraw from the Lebanese territories, pledging not to fire a single bullet against Israel from the Lebanese borders if Israel to withdraw its troops from Lebanon. He described the massacre committed by Israel against Lebanese civilians in Qana as one of the ugliest crimes the world has ever witnessed.

For his part, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri praised sacrifices rendered by Syria in defense of Lebanon's Arab identity and national unity . In his meeting with participants in the same conference Berri said that Syria who had tremendous sacrifices in Lebanon, is a real supporter to Lebanon and the Lebanese national resistance which confront Israeli repeated aggressions.

Replying to questions put by participants in the conference Berri said that the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon is legitimate because it came at the request of the Lebanese government.