Moratinos in Lebanon to examine ideas to advance peace

The European Union's envoy to the Middle East, Miguel Moratinos, is heading today to Beirut to discuss with Lebanese leaders ideas and suggestions for resuming peace negotiations on the Lebanese and Syrian tracks with Israel.

Moratinos confirmed that, "The European Union is supporting resuming the negotiations on the Lebanese and the Syrian tracks from the point at which they have stopped, as well as referring to Europe's support for implementing United Nations' resolution 425."

He said, "Long discussions were made with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa the day before yesterday and lasted for three hours, during which the peace process was reviewed and methods of contributing to resuming the peace negotiations on the Lebanese and the Syrian tracks."

Moratinos also said, "I discussed with al-Sharaa some ideas and suggestions which I presented to the Cabinet of the European Union, and I will discuss it with them during the meeting that will be hold in Luxembourg on the 29th of the current month."

He added, "I will discuss with Israel and Lebanon ideas, which are based on (U.N.) resolutions, which are the only ways to advance the Syrian and the Lebanese tracks" of negotiation with Israel.