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August 11, 2006 |
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THE MINISTERS ANNOUNCE THEIR SUPPORT TO THE SEVEN POINTS AND WARN THE UNSC AGAINST CONSEQUENCES DUE TO THESE RESOLUTIONS BEING NOT LIABLE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS. IN AN EMOTIONAL SPEECH SINIORA PRESENTS THE LEBANESE SITUATION. PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL: LEBANON INCLUDING ALL ITS CLASSES AND STRATA SHOULD NEVER BE THE PRETEXT FOR ANY REGIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS. THE LEBANESE CABINET UNANIMOUSLY AGREES ON SENDING 15000 LEBANESE SOLDIERS TO THE SOUTH. Arab foreign ministers held an extraordinary meeting in Beirut last Monday to discuss the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and means for confronting challenges facing the Arab region. The Saudi delegation to the meeting is led by foreign minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal. The first session was attended by Lebanese Premier Fouad Al-Siniora and Arab League's secretary general Amr Mousa. During his emotional speech before Arab foreign ministers, Lebanese Premier Fouad Al-Siniora called on Arab countries to help Lebanon. 'Israeli army has left no bridge standing, bombarded hospitals and UN posts, all for the sake of revenge,' PM says During his address to Arab foreign ministers in Beirut. Siniora spoke about the killed in Lebanon: " We know that we are not the only ones facing this catastrophe, as our brothers in Palestine and Iraq are also suffering under the occupation." He then turned to the Arab countries for help, and broke into tears once again: "Our 'Arabness' is unconditional. Your support is your duty and responsibility," he stated. Siniora's address was met with a warm round of applause. "The Arab future is one future. I'm sure we will all stay united. We need help with construction, economic aid. We need political and diplomatic assistance so that these actions are not repeated," he said. "We need help in putting an end to this aggression and in enforcing the Lebanese sovereignty all across our territory. We want to salvage the common life in Lebanon. You and us are facing a difficult test by the international community," Prime Minister Siniora declared. "This is the 26th day of the Lebanese holocaust. Israel is committing state terror," he stated, stressing that Lebanon's aim was to reach an immediate ceasefire based on the "Seven Points Plan." "We need to consolidate a unified Arab stance and push for a different Security Council resolution," he said. Siniora spoke about the villages and towns hit by Israel air strikes, and mentioned the destruction of infrastructure and "the killing of some 1000 civilians, a third of them under the age of 12. A million people displaced." "A terrible massacre took place at the village of Houla where more than 40 people were killed as a result of an Israeli bombardment," the PM declared. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora broke down in tears as he appealed to Arab foreign ministers not to allow war-torn Lebanon to remain a conflict zone and a "punch bag" for Israel. Siniora's voice choked and his hands shook as he held a copy of his speech in which he said "we do not want the Lebanese state and the Lebanese people to remain the punch bag of Israel or anyone else." "We are determined not to be the arena for conflicts and confrontations from now on, whatever the justification," he said at an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the 22-member Arab League. After stopping for moments of tearful silence, Siniora said: "We are basing our arguments on the sorrows of the widowed women, the dead children, the wounded and the homeless people." "This setback threw our country decades back," said Siniora, who took office barely a year ago after the first elections in Lebanon since Syria pulled its troops out in April 2005. He said he condemned "the destruction of the country's infrastructure, the killing of about 1,000 citizens, a third of whom are children under 12 years old, while the refugees and the displaced people is nearly one million people." "Massacres did not spare anyone, from Lebanon's south, to its mountains, valleys, north, east, Beirut and its great and steadfast suburbs. "One hour ago there was a horrible massacre in the village of Hula, a deliberate massacre, in which there were more than 40 martyrs," he said. "The Israeli army did not spare any bridge, institution, road, civil defense center, populated area, hospital and United Nations position. "They even hit humanitarian convoys and the assistance sent to us by our Arab brothers, for no other reason but rancor and revenge," he said. In an appeal to the ministers, he said: "Your position with us, your standing with us, is a right and a duty." "Arab security is interlinked, Arab future is interlinked," he said, before removing his glasses and wiping tears from his cheeks with a white handkerchief. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora appealed to Arab foreign ministers to help stop the conflict that, in his words, is cutting Lebanon to pieces. He told the ministers, Lebanon "is in need today, before tomorrow, of a decisive, united Arab stand" to amend a U.N. Security Council draft resolution, which he said could be a positive step toward a permanent solution. The Lebanese government has complained that the draft resolution sponsored by the United States and France does not go far enough. He appealed to Arab states to use their influence to win changes to the draft. After the meeting, Mr. Siniora told reporters that Arab League ministers gave their "complete, complete, complete backing to the seven points that the Lebanese government has adopted." The Lebanese plan calls for, among other things, an immediate cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and the expansion of the existing U.N. peacekeeping force in the area, as well as the deployment of the Lebanese army to the border and the disarming of Hezbollah. Late Monday evening, Lebanese officials said the Cabinet unanimously approved a plan to send 15,000 soldiers to south Lebanon as soon as Israeli troops withdraw. Prime Minister Siniora said the Arab League agreed to immediately dispatch a delegation to the United Nations to participate in a debate Tuesday regarding possible amendments to the draft resolution. Just hours before the Arab League ministers arrived at Beirut's damaged and shuttered airport, Israeli airstrikes rocked the Lebanese capital. The airstrikes resumed briefly after the ministers left. Several dozen Lebanese were also killed in a new wave of Israeli air strikes across the country last Monday, raising the death toll to nearly 1,000, and the Prime Minister expressed his frustration about the civilian casualties. "I urge every man, every woman in the world -- of all the peace loving nations -- to see what crimes Israel is committing against Lebanon," said Fouad Siniora, "and to cry, to stand up, that we should not really tolerate this anymore. This should be stopped and stopped now. This is unacceptable." Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister and Head of the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the extraordinary meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Beirut stressed that remarks hinted or stated that the Kingdom is against holding an Arab Emergency Summit to deal with the situation in Lebanon is completely untrue, noting that he is authorized to announce that the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz is ready not only to attend the summit but also to call for convening it on the holiest land, near the Grand Mosque in Makkah on a date agreed by leaders of Arab countries. Addressing the meeting, Prince Saud said that the Kingdom does not set preconditions for the summit, but hopes and demands that its convention comes after good preparations dependent on an Arab and clear strategy aiming to bring about concrete results, alternatives and options appropriate to the ambitions and aspirations of the Arab people. Prince Saud said that Lebanon is one of the founders of the Arab League and has suffered more than others for our issues, so it has a right to stand by it in confronting the dangerous challenges imposed on it by circumstances. Prince Saud added that it is noticeable that our Arab countries have gradually lost their ability of concentrating on the national interest and making it overcoming others of regional and factional disputes. In the context of keeping away from the logic of a national decision, we become subject to pressures and attractions by third parties trying to convince us that the solutions of our problems are available there, Prince Saud indicated. He said that we should stand by Lebanon including all its classes and strata and decisively support a seven-point plan adopted by the Lebanese government and unanimously approved by the Lebanese people which forms a reasonable base for a solution and represents the best expression of a collective Arab stance on the Lebanese problem. The Prince affirmed that this plan should be a base for the draft resolution currently being submitted at the United Nations. Meanwhile Defense Minister Elias Murr said after a Cabinet session that the government would deploy 15,000 troops along the UN-demarcated Blue Line as soon as Israeli forces withdrew. The Cabinet made the decision in a unanimous vote, Murr told reporters. Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said the government reserved the right to ask UNIFIL for help in deploying army forces in the South. Political sources said the government hoped the move, long demanded by the international community, would pave the way for amendments to a draft UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the 27-day-old Israeli offensive on Lebanon. The army also called up reservists last Monday, according to security and political sources, which would likely replace any troops sent to the South. Meanwhile, Arab foreign ministers who gathered in Beirut last Monday demanded that Israel withdraws its troops as part of any UN resolution to end the crisis. France's envoy to the UN, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, said that changes would probably be made to the draft. The Arab ministers also decided to send a delegation to the UN in New York to push for amendments which serve Lebanon's "interest, stability and unity," Premier Fouad Siniora said in a news conference after a day of talks. He said delegation will include UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan, Qatari Foreign Minister Hamed bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa. "The meeting was successful in regards to Arab solidarity with Lebanon," he added. Siniora also said a Lebanese delegation headed by Culture Minister Tarek Mitri would accompany the Arab delegation. Commenting on the seven-point proposal approved by his Cabinet and the Arab foreign ministers, the Premier said: "You cannot take one part without the other. The plan should be viewed as a whole," meaning spreading the government's authority in the South cannot happen without a complete Israeli withdrawal. Siniora also addressed Israel's threats to finish off the country's infrastructure, vowing that "Lebanon will not kneel." The premier said an Arab summit would be held after deliberations among regional leaders. "Moussa is working on that and the Saudi king has asked that it would be hold in Jeddah," he said. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also apologized for referring to an "Israeli massacre" reported in the Southern town of Houla during his speech. "Thank God, one person was killed rather than 40 as initially feared ... Thank God they have been saved," he said. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said Israeli "aggression and attacks on Lebanon must stop," adding in comments to Turkey's Milliyet daily that Riyadh's patience was wearing thin. "We have been patient for a long time, but our patience is running out ... If Israel wants to live in this region it has to learn to stay in peace with the people of the region ... They are destroying the whole country because two soldiers were captured. It is a tragedy." On the other hand the Arab Foreign Minister's Council saluted Lebanon's "steadfastness and resistance" in facing the Israeli war machine and the policy of destruction and devastation, killings and massacres perpetrated by Israel to wipe out the infrastructure and the development basis in Lebanon. At its emergency meeting held in Beirut, the council underlined "full and consolidated standing by Lebanon in its resistance and rejection of the aggression" asserting the coherence and unity of the Lebanese people constitutes the best secure for Lebanon's future, security and stability. The Council has reiterated the commitment of the Arab countries to provide the Lebanese government with the required political support. The Council underlined the importance of taking decisions which take into account the interests, unity and stability of Lebanon. It saluted the resistance of Lebanon towards the aggression, and said the practices of Israel in Lebanon, especially in Qana, constitute war crimes which require an immediate international investigation by the UN. The ministers held Israel full responsibility for its aggression on Lebanon and its results as well as the intended targeting of civilians and destruction of the infrastructure, the matter the constitutes a screaming and dangerous violation of the human and international law in addition to Geneva accords which require holding Israel responsibility for compensation to the Lebanese republic and citizens over huge losses and great material and moral damages inflicted because of the hostilities. The Council also saluted the who martyrs fell due to the Israeli aggression calling to consider everything perpetrated by Israel of violations as "war crimes" that requires an international investigation from the UN and the pursing of Israel and its official before the international specialized references. The Arab foreign ministers condemned the "continuous bloody aggression of Israel against Lebanon" as they "voiced resentment due to the UNSC delay to hold responsibilities in keeping the international peace and security" calling it to "quickly move as to take decision over an immediate and comprehensive as well as un provisional ceasefire, to halt the aggression and lift the siege, in addition to the Israeli withdrawal from the Lebanese territories with no delay." The ministers announced backing and support to the "seven points ratified by the Lebanese government" and the modifications and suggestions over the presented draft bills to the UNSC warning the UNSC against consequences due to these resolutions being not liable to meeting the requirements, complicating the situation on the ground and not take into consideration Lebanon's interests, unity and stability in addition to posing dangerous repercussions against all the Arab countries. The Communique expressed appreciation for the Arab and international countries and organizations which have extended financial and humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, and called for intensifying efforts in the field of relief assistance. The Communique called for convening a conference for the donor countries and organizations for assisting Lebanon and enabling it overcome the adverse impact caused by the Israeli aggression. The Council of the Arab Foreign Ministers has decided to assign the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Chairman of the current session of the Arab League's Council, and the Qatari Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister, in his capacity as the representative of the Arab countries at the Security Council, as well as the Arab League's Secretary General to leave for New York to meet the Security Council and the UN's Secretary General so as to present the Arab view as regards the situation in Lebanon. The Council decided to hold an extraordinary session in Cairo after the return of the committee from New York to discuss the report and the recommendations of the assigned committee. The Council welcomed the idea of convening an extraordinary Arab Summit in line with the proposal of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and following up the Yemeni proposal to hold an extraordinary summit. The Secretary General was assigned to conduct the required consultations about convening the proposed extraordinary summit and the date of its convening. On the situation in the Palestinian territories, the council noticed the ignorance of Israel to the pledges and agreements concluded between it and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The Council decided to call for convening a meeting at a higher level to review means of settling the Arab-Israeli dispute in line with the Council's resolutions, notably resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515. The Council decided to assign the Arab League Secretary General the task of holding consultations and needed contacts in coordination with the state of Qatar delegation representing the Arab group to follow up the UN draft bill over Lebanon and keep sessions open to follow updated events. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal had arrived in Beirut to lead the Saudi delegation to the Arab Foreign Ministers extraordinary meeting. He was received at Rafiq Al-Hariri International Airport by Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Muhyuddin Khojah. Arab League's secretary general Amr Mousa has announced that convening the Arab extraordinary Summit has become more probable. Beirut-based Al-Safeer newspaper quoted Mousa as saying that 'in principle there is an Arab understanding on the importance of convening the Arab Summit, and contacts are underway in this respect'. He noted that in the light of the meeting of the Arab foreign ministers today, the issue of convening the Arab Summit will become more clearer'. Lebanese Premier Fuad Al-Siniora said that Arab foreign ministers who concluded their extraordinary meeting authorized the Secretary General of Arab League Amr Moussa to make contacts and preparations for convening and setting a date of an Arab Summit called for by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. In a press conference, he stressed the success of the meeting of the ministers on Arab solidarity with Lebanon. The Lebanese government said last Monday it is ready to deploy 15,000 troops in the south up to the border with Israel once the Jewish state pulls out all soldiers from the area. "The government asserts that it is ready to send 15,000 troops to the south, with the Israeli withdrawal beyond the Blue Line," or Lebanon's UN-drawn border with Israel, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said after the cabinet meeting. Asked about the military presence of Hezbollah which has been controlling the border area, Aridi said: "Where the army will be, it will be on its own." "Hezbollah is staying in the south as a party which represents a political and social strata, which has its role and position and has its effects in Lebanon's decision-making," he said. Responding to a question about Hezbollah's agreement to the decision, Aridi said there is an "agreement on all the steps, and we do not necessarily announce everything." He said the Lebanese government also declared its readiness to accept the help of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "when need be in order to facilitate the deployment of the army." Defense Minister Elias Murr said the decision was adopted unanimously by the government, including Hezbollah cabinet members. "It was approved unanimously, without reservations from anyone," he said. Murr said "this is a clear message to the international community and the UN Security Council before its meeting about Lebanon's clear intention to send the army" to the south. On the other hand President Emile Lahoud of Lebanon President Bashar al-Assad made a telephone call with president Emile Lahoud of Lebanon during which both leaders reviewed the developments of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and the reactions to it. The two Presidents also discussed the US-French draft resolution due to be presented to the UN security Council, and stressed that any formula should be agreed by a Lebanese consensus. President Assad pointed out during the phone call that some powers seek to secure favorable circumstances in the interest of Israel to enable it get political gains which it failed to win thorough its aggression. |
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