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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon in New York on Wednesday. (GPO)
Last update - 14:09 13/11/2008
Livni to Ban: UN must hold Syria responsible for arms smuggling
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Tags: syria, israel news 

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Wednesday accused Syria of breaching United Nations Security Council resolutions and endangering the whole of the Middle East by continuing to support the smuggling of weapons and ammunitions to militant groups in Lebanon.

Livni told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on the sidelines of an interfaith meeting in New York that Syria must be clearly warned that it will not gain legitimazation from the West unless it is held responsible for the smuggling.

Meanhwile, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband is to visit Syria as part of a tour of the Middle East next week in an effort to improve relations.
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The foreign secretary on Wednesday praised Syria for opening diplomatic relations with Lebanon and preventing foreign fighters infiltrating Iraq.

"I think it is important for us to find ways for Syria to play a constructive role in the future of the Middle East," Miliband told a news conference.

"Syria is a secular state in the Middle East. It has the potential to play a stabilizing role in the region," he added.

"In a significant way, there has been an important change in the approach of the Syrian government, notably the historic decision to exchange ambassadors with Lebanon," he added.

The Times of London reported on Thursday that Miliband would use his visit in hopes of persuading Syria to drop its support of Hamas and Hezbollah in exchange for improved relations with the West and the return of the Golan Heights.

Miliband will visit Israel, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Syria, a spokeswoman from his office said, giving no details of specific dates.

She said the visit was part of efforts to develop "a strong U.K.-Syrian partnership based on mutual trust, shared interests and a vision for a stable peaceful and prosperous Middle East."

The visit follows talks last month in London between Miliband and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem and is the latest in a series of overtures between Syria and European nations, particularly France and Britain, seeking an end to Syria's strained relations with the West due to its support of Iran.

Miliband's visit, the first to Damascus by a British foreign secretary since 2000, is a further sign of improved relations between Syria and European nations.

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      1.   Syria can afford to wait 11:22  |  Natallie Durson 13/11/08
      2.   Further proof if any was needed 12:03  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/11/08
      3.   Syria must first recognize Israel`s right to exist prior to ... 12:19  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 13/11/08
      4.   Miliband: promise on behalf of Israel. Is he making aliyah? 13:39  |  x-ray 13/11/08
      5.   Syria must be compensated for the IAF invasion 13:42  |  lydia 13/11/08
      6.   Wow! Someone was quick to tack that onto the front 13:54  |  Johnboy 13/11/08
      7.   # 1 and # 2 , please tell us the secret: what will be our destiny 14:41  |  Israeli citizen 13/11/08
      8.   Tzipi is so right...(but unfortunately a little bit "incomplete") 14:55  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/11/08
      9.   america arms Israel; Syria arms lebanon. it is equal! 15:01  |  American in NY 13/11/08
      10.   Israel is against arms smuggling? 16:39  |  Natallie Durson 13/11/08
      11.   to #3 16:52  |  joe 13/11/08
      12.   #1.Natallie. Spot on. 16:55  |  Stephen. 13/11/08
      13.   Britania thinks it still rules 17:09  |  Golani 13/11/08
      14.   that`s right,syria and iran are responsible for arms smuggling 17:18  |  glenna 13/11/08
      15.   Wow, Jehudah Ben-Israel, I fully agree with your post. Thanks. 17:22  |  Albert 13/11/08
      16.   #7 American in NY,so now you admit hezbullah is lebanon 18:28  |  terrornator 13/11/08
      17.   Can Syria be trusted? 18:50  |  Jean Van Daem 13/11/08
      18.   *********** 1701=LIVNI=FAILURE! ********* 18:59  |  GO HOME U FAILED! 13/11/08
      19.   what is she going to be held responsible for after she gives 19:04  |  glenna 13/11/08
      20.   #5 Israeli Citizen 19:35  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/11/08
      21.   WOW! The Hasbarah Hacker went to work on this article 00:48  |  Johnboy 14/11/08
      22.   David Miliband ... the essence of diplomacy 14:30  |  allang 14/11/08
      23.   the tormented torrenator# 8 did I mention hezbollah? 14:51  |  American in NY 14/11/08
      24.   "american" in NY,you didn`t have to mention hezBULLah,everybody 01:15  |  terrornator 15/11/08
      25.   I wonder 11:27  |  Anwar 17/11/08
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