Annan, Meguid discuss Israel-Lebanon and regional problems

Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel Meguid and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan discussed and held a press conference in which they addressed the peace process, the Libyan Lockerbie crisis after the International Court of Justice's recent decision, recent developments in the Somali crisis, the Cairo agreement and the UN-Iraq inspection agreement.

Annan stated the importance of finding a solution concerning south Lebanon, stating that currently there are no actual solutions that are adequate. Annan voiced support for the ME peace, adding he is backing the countries of the region to move forward and to work with the US for this end.

Annan said, regarding his visit to Lebanon and talks about UN resolution 425 and the Israeli offers of conditional withdrawal from south Lebanon, that the UN role in this respect is crystal clear in that 425 "has to be implemented, and I will discuss this matter with the Lebanese officials and in Israel.

"We have all to work together with sides concerned and the US in backing this process," Annan said. Concerning his statements that he carries no proposals on behalf of the peace process on this trip, Annan elaborated: "It is not convenient to put proposals on the table at a time when a process is under debate."

Annan denied that the United Nations is acting according to a double standard toward Middle East countries. He stated international society is more decisive with Iraq because it attacked Kuwait, referring to sanctions issued by the Security Council against Iraq based on Chapter 7 of the United Nations charter.

Abdel Meguid for his part said that the Arab League is waiting for the meeting to be held in the UN Security Council to discuss south Lebanon, the Arab position towards it which was developed during the sevenfold committee's meeting at the ministerial level in Doha on the margin of the meeting of Islamic countries' foreign ministers.

Meguid also stated that he talked with Annan about the Security Council's session on the Lockerbie crisis -- the first addressing the issue after the International Court of Justice's resolution was issued that made this disagreement a legal one not simply a political disagreement -- as well as coordination between the Arab League, the Organization of African Unity and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Meguid said there is a understanding between the Security Council's member states, the Arab and African groups.

Concerning Israeli abidance by implementing UN resolutions in light of the agreement recently made with Iraq, Abdel Meguid said Annan is greatly concerned with respect the implementation of all UN resolutions, especially those of the Security Council.

Abdel Meguid described Annan's visit to the region as very useful and said Annan is taking the right path after reaching his agreement with Iraq.