Fatchett to visit Lebanon next week

British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Derek Fatchett will conduct an official visit to Lebanon on March 22 and 23, during which he will hold talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss dealing with the situation in South Lebanon and the Middle East peace process.

A spokesman for the British Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Fatchett will be the first British minister to meet with Lahoud and al-Hoss since the two men assumed their posts of office in Lebanon.

The British spokesman added that talks will deal with relations between the two countries, especially in the commercial fields and development and construction projects in Lebanon.

Britain calls for the need of Israel's implementation of UN resolution 425 providing for Israel's withdrawal from all Lebanese territories and Lebanese sovereignty over all the Lebanese lands.

Britain also calls for resuming talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks with the objective of achieving a just and comprehensive settlement in the region.