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March 9, 2007 |
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THE SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO LEBANON CONTINUES MEETINGS TO REACH A WAY FOR A SOLUTION TO THE LEBANESE CRISIS. THE KING OF JORDAN: WE ARE IN THE REGION FACING TWO OPTIONS: PEACE AND STABILITY OR CHAOS. MOSCOW CALLS ON THE LEBANESE TO RESORT TO DIALOGUE. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received a message from Egypt's President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak. The message was conveyed to the king by Chief of Egyptian General Intelligence Omar Suleiman during an audience with the King at the royal court at Al-Yamamah palace. During the audience, Suleiman conveyed to King Abdullah the greetings of the Egyptian President. In turn, King Abdullah sent his greetings to the President. The audience was attended by Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Secretary General of National Security Council; Prince Dr. Bandar Bin Salman Bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor to the King; Prince Salman Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Secretary General of National Security Council; and Abdul Mohsen Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Tuwaijri, Advisor to the King. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received a message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The message was handed over to the King by UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Dr. Ibrahim Ghambari during an audience with the King at the royal court at Al-Yamamah palace. During the audience, Ghambari conveyed to King Abdullah the greetings of the UN Secretary General. In turn, King Abdullah sent his greetings to Ki-Moon. The audience was attended by a number of princes and officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to Romano Prodi, the Italian Premier, on the occasion of vote of confidence on his government. The Monarch expressed his good wishes to the president and people of Italy. On his part, Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, has sent a similar cable of congratulations to Prodi. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, received Prince Mawlay Rasheed Bin Al Hasan II. The audience was attended by a number of princes and officials. On the Lebanese arena the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud received the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khojah. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon and current developments in Lebanon. The Lebanese President hoped success for efforts by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to help solve the current political crisis in Lebanon before the Arab Summit this month. He said he had seen in the meetings held in Saudi Arabia recently an opportunity to ease tension and increase optimism to reach desired solutions soon. In a statement by the media bureau of the Lebanese presidency, the president stressed that Saudi Arabia underlined its support for all that is agreed on by the Lebanese because it stands at equal distance from all. In turn, the Ambassador stressed Saudi leaders' interest in supporting Lebanon always. He pointed out that positive signs have begun to appear in the direction of solution expressing confidence that there is a positive environment and that all parties are working to find an appropriate solution to the current political crisis in Lebanon. Lebanese Premier Fouad Al Saniora received Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khojah. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon and current developments in Lebanon. On the other hand the Speaker of the Lebanese Council of Deputies Nabih Barri received the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr Abdul Aziz Khoja. They reviewed the developments of the situation in Lebanon in addition to bilateral relations. Following the meeting, the Saudi Ambassador told reporters that the environment is "very, very positive and optimism is still there." he hoped to reach a solution to the Lebanese crisis before the Arab Summit. Saudi Ambassador Abdel Aziz Khoja has said that he hoped a meeting between Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri would soon take place to end the deadlock which has politically paralyzed Lebanon for more than three months. Khoja said it is very significant that Berri and Hariri meet so that the two sides would "agree on common and decisive steps once and for all." "I hope this meeting would take place soon," Khoja told reporters on after talks with Berri at his Ain el-Tineh mansion in Beirut. Lebanese Acting Foreign Minister Tariq Mitri hailed efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud to boost dialogue among the Lebanese and maintain Lebanon's stability and independence. In a statement, the Lebanese official said that Saudi Arabia is working in all circumstances for these goals. Dr. Sameer Gaaga, Chairman of the Executive Commission of the Lebanese forces, lauded the great efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to end the political crisis in Lebanon. In a press conference following his meeting with Prime Minister of Lebanon Fouad Al Sanioura, Dr. Gaaga said the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was exerting great efforts to solve this crisis. Then he called on the Lebanese opposition to submit the amendments they suggest on the international tribunal system for discussion. Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Saniora welcomed Saudi efforts to end the ongoing political crisis. President Hosni Mubarak held a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora. Talks took up the latest developments in the Lebanese arena and efforts to contain the political crisis in the country. Also, President Mubarak met with Lebanese Minister of Culture and Acting Foreign Minister Tarek Mitri. Mitri took part Sunday in the meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers council in Cairo. Also, President Hosni Mubarak yesterday received former Lebanese president Amin Gemayel, who is now visiting here. After the meeting, the visiting former president said his talks with Mubarak took up a host of issues, including the Palestinian situation and the current state of affairs in Iraq and Lebanon. On the other hand at the Elysee Palace, MP Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri said France and President Jacques Chirac are committed to the creation of an international tribunal to try the suspects in Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's assassination, and they do not want to see the results of the recent Paris III international donors conference wasted. Head of the Future Bloc also expressed optimism that a solution to the crisis in Lebanon will be reached, citing a flurry of regional diplomacy, especially Saudi mediation efforts. He made clear that the approval by Parliament of the tribunal will resolve the crisis, and warned against adopting the court's establishment under the UN Charter. He pointed out that a majority of MPs seek an extraordinary session of the House to approve the court. The Head of the Future Parliamentary Bloc MP Saad Hariri asserted that French President Jacques Chirac and France do not want to see the constructive outcome of Paris III conference squandered by the internal Lebanese crisis. He said that the French President and France are committed to the creation of the international tribunal as soon as possible. MP Hariri expressed his optimism that a solution to the recent crisis in Lebanon will be reached, citing a flurry of issues being discussed to reach this solution, pointing out that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to solve the crises of the region. MP Hariri was speaking after talks with French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysée Palace. Discussions focused on the situation in Lebanon and the region, the international tribunal and Paris III Conference. After the meeting which lasted one hour and a half, MP Hariri said: "I thanked President Chirac for France's efforts to make Paris III Conference to help the Lebanese economy a success. President Chirac is very keen not to squander the constructive outcome of the Paris III Conference by the internal Lebanese problems because the international community and the Arab community in particular want to give the Lebanese people what they want to save the Lebanese economy. We also talked about the importance of the international Tribunal for Lebanon and the international community. President Chirac hoped that this matter will be unanimously approved and that it will be passed by the Lebanese Parliament so work can begin to form this tribunal. We stressed during the meeting that if such an approach failed that doesn't mean that the international community abandoned its demand to implement justice. The justice which the international community is demanding is the establishment of the international tribunal. We as Lebanese should move forward with the issue of the international tribunal or some parties will put themselves in a situation where the tribunal will be established under Chapter Seven." Question: Is the tribunal the gateway to the solution? MP Hariri: This is what I always say. I said on February 14 that the gateway to the solution is the international tribunal and this is what we are seeking. We talked about the necessity of taking a courageous decision regarding the international tribunal and reaching a solution in Lebanon, but until now we didn't get any answer to that. Question: Did President Chirac agree on submitting a draft project to the Security Council to establish the international tribunal under Chapter Seven? MP Hariri: Everything in due time. I think we should seriously work to convene the Parliament and finish this issue because the Parliament is for all the Lebanese and there are seventy deputies who frankly said that they are ready to vote for it. There is something wrong going on in Lebanon. The deputies submitted a petition to the president for an extraordinary session but until now the President didn't respond to this petition. Question: What did you discuss with President Chirac? MP Hariri: I thanked President Chirac for making Paris III Conference a success because our country was in dire need for such a conference especially after the war that took place on July 12 and which negatively affected the Lebanese economy. Paris III Conference was a great success for Lebanon and France, and 40% of the amounts given came from member states in the European Union. We also discussed the importance of the international tribunal and the importance of exerting efforts to be approved by the Lebanese parliament. We also talked about the importance of trying the criminals because they shouldn't be given a license to kill. They should also understand that the tribunal will either be established through the Lebanese Parliament or through going to the United Nations where there are other means to establish this tribunal. Question: What do you think about the atmosphere of optimism that prevails today before the Arab Summit? MP Hariri: I was optimistic since the beginning. There are intimidation campaigns. But I always talked about the necessity of being optimistic because there is a solution and several issues are raised to reach this solution. I think that the Arab Summit, the Islamic Summit, the meeting that took place between the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the Custodian of the Two Holy Shrines King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and the visit of the Iranian President to the kingdom show that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is moving forward to solve the crises facing the region. On the other hand Lebanese Culture Minister and Acting Foreign Minister Tareq Mitri highlighted the importance of Arab role in resolving the Lebanon crisis, calling for more Arab and international support to Lebanese efforts to restore stability. Mitri made the remarks after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. It is true that the Lebanese problem is an internal affair, but the Lebanese can benefit a lot from the support given to them by their Arab brothers, Mitri was quoted as saying. While hailing President Mubarak's efforts to assist the Lebanese people to overcome their hardships, Mitri also stressed the importance of the role played by Saudi Arabia to help Lebanon resolve its crisis through dialogue. The recent Saudi-Iranian summit on Lebanon's problem is expected to assist in facilitating Lebanon's national dialogue to reach an agreement ahead of the forthcoming Arab summit in Riyadh in late March, he added. The Lebanese official also praised the Cairo-based Arab League (AL) for its strenuous efforts to settle the Lebanon crisis, noting that AL chief Amr Moussa was waiting for a suitable time to resume his mission to reconcile the Lebanese parties. Mitri said that the Lebanese no longer want the country to be a battlefield for conflicting international powers, adding that the Lebanese still have a chance to make headway and resolve their political crisis. Mount Lebanon's Mufti Mohammed Ali Al-Jouzo commended the efforts being exerted by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz to heal rifts, unite Arabs and Muslims and solve crises in the region. In a statement, he said that the king has been playing a historical role in saving the nation from crises, noting in this regard the agreement between Hamas and Fatah movements in the sanctuary of the grand mosque in Makkah and the kingdom's assistance to the Lebanese people. On Saudi-Iranian summit in Riyadh, he said that the kingdom attracts all attention to solving the problems threatening the whole region. In Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, praised the sincere efforts made the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to patronize Makkah agreement between the Palestinian factions. In a statement to the Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA), Crown Prince Nawaf lauded the agreement signed between the Palestinians in Makkah, saying "we call upon all Palestinian to put the Palestinian interests above all and to do their utmost sincere efforts to form a national unity government." Sheikh Nawaf commended strong relations among member states of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressing his hope to further strengthen the bonds of cooperation in various fields. Regarding the Arab regular summit scheduled to be held in Riyadh in later this month, Kuwaiti Crown Prince expressed his hope that the summit would be fruitful. Commenting on the situation in Iraq, Sheikh Nawaf expressed deep grief for what is happening in Iraq of terrorism and violence that claim lives of many innocent civilians every day. He called on Iraqis to exert maximum efforts in order to achieve reconciliation among all factions. Sheikh Nawaf also called on all countries in the region to closely cooperate at the security level and have complete coordination among the security services to counter terrorism. In Moscow Russia insistently urges all Lebanese forces to settle disputes within the constitutional framework through a patient dialogue and mutual concessions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. According to the top Russian diplomat, "a specific character of multi-confessional and politically multiform Lebanon is such that no accord can be reached without compromise decisions". "There can be no winners and losers in the civil strife in Lebanon, but it would be a disaster for the whole country and the region," the minister stressed. He emphasized an important element of Russia's stance that all accumulated and really complicated internal problems of Lebanon must be solved by the Lebanese people without any interference from outside, no matter where it comes from. To help the Lebanese agree, like the League of Arab States is doing, for example, - is another thing, Lavrov stressed. "We hope that these efforts will pay off," the foreign minister noted. He said the internal political crisis in Lebanon has stalled. This causes most serious concerns in Russia, because the danger of a further escalation of the confrontation between the two camps, into which the Lebanese society has been split, persists, the foreign minister stressed. On another development Jordan's King Abdullah II urged the US to act now to improve its image in the Middle East and called on Israel to abandon its 'fortress' mentality. King Abdullah II, speaking ahead of a visit to the US, also warned that the Middle East stood before a crucial turning point. 'Frankly speaking, we are in this region facing two options: peace and stability or chaos,' he told Jordanian state television. 'Events here are quite complex and there is a need to move and connect with all parties so as to avoid further sliding and the loss of an opportunity towards a comprehensive peace,' the king said. Otherwise, he added, the whole region would submerge into catastrophes, chaos and violence. King Abdullah acknowledged that the Iraq war had absorbed US foreign policy attention. 'The US focus now is on Iraq and it is attempting to bail itself out of its complexity and explosive situation there,' he said. The US remained however, in the eyes of the Jordanian monarch, a major party in Middle Eastern issues, and no party can ignore its crucial influence on Israel. 'It is high time the US exercised this role and prove to peoples of the region its transparency and non-bias to any of the belligerent parties,' King Abdullah said. When Bush visited Amman in December, the king sensed in him a commitment toward settling the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of a two-state solution. He said he sensed the same commitment with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who toured the region twice over the past two months. The king also accused Israel of ignoring calls for peace talks with the Palestinians. 'Israel is responsible. It has to choose between falling captive to the fortress mentality or living in peace and stability with its neighbours,' King Abdullah said. King Abdullah also confirmed that municipal and legislative elections were to be held this year in line with the constitution, responding to criticism that he was planning a postponement. In Gaza Presidency Spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rdeina, said that there are no serious or real obstacles towards forming a national unity government. Speaking to journalists following a meeting in Gaza between President Mahmoud Abbas and his designated Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyah, Abu Rdeina revealed that the meeting tackled all issues in detail, adding that consultations would continue tomorrow. He also hinted that the unity government would see sight during one week. Meanwhile French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said in an interview that any military strike against Iran in the dispute over its nuclear program would risk destabilizing the region. "For France, a military intervention is not the solution," he said in comments in the London-based Arabic newspaper Al Hayat. "I add that a military strike against Iran would have unforeseeable consequences, which would be deeply destabilizing for the whole region." Villepin said Tehran had to choose dialogue and return to the negotiating table. "If Iran makes the gesture of suspending its enrichment activities, the (U.N. Security) Council will be able to suspend the sanctions in return," he said, referring to measures passed by the Council in December. Addressing the media during a press conference held by the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said that China hopes to see Palestine and Israel achieve peaceful co-existence at an early day through negotiations based on relevant UN resolutions and the principle of land for peace. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said that China hopes to see peace in Iraq and the Middle East at an early date and will continue to provide assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq to the best of its ability. |
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