Hoss says Lebanon will not discuss Israeli pullout terms
Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss has said that an Israeli pullout from the occupied strip of south Lebanon would lead to security and stability along the international borders and revive the 1949 truce agreement, noting at the same time Lebanon's refusal to discuss any security arrangements with Israel.
A statement issued by the Lebanese Cabinet on Saturday said what the BBC radio quoted about al-Hoss was incomplete and might give a different interpretation. The Cabinet statement indicated that the Lebanese premier said that: "Security and stability prevail in all Lebanese territories outside the occupied zone. It should not be different in the border areas after Israel's withdrawal which can revive the truce agreement. The borders will then be secure but this does not mean that Lebanon is ready to discuss arrangements or give guarantees, because this violates (U.N.) Resolution 425."
Earlier, the London BBC radio reported that al-Hoss said Lebanon is ready to guarantee implementation of the 1949 cease-fire agreement and to prevent attacks on northern Israel if Israel pulls out of Lebanon.
On Saturday, al-Hoss said that Lebanon would not consider any Israeli conditions for ending its military occupation of south Lebanon. In a statement to the Lebanese National News Agency, al-Hoss said "Our position is firm and will not change. Lebanon is not ready to discuss any security arrangements or guarantees for an Israeli pullout."
Referring to the 21- year old UN resolution 425, al-Hoss added "Resolution 425 is clear and demands an unconditional and complete Israeli withdrawal from the Lebanese territories."
Al-Hoss added, refuting statements made by the BBC, that he had told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in an interview on Friday that an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon would activate a 1949 armistice agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which are officially in war.
Al-Hoss explained "What I meant to say, quite simply, was that the required Israeli pullout would restore Lebanon's sovereignty over the occupied territories and revive the armistice. Any other interpretations of what I said are untrue."
Earlier in the day, Hoss's office stated that the BBC had broadcast his comments in an incomplete form which might have been misunderstood.