Lebanon seeks German aid in arming, training army to fight militants - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Thu., September 06, 2007 Elul 23, 5767

Israel Time: 02:41 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Print Edition

Diplomacy

Defense

Arts & Leisure

Real Estate

Jewish World

National

Advertising

Magazine

Week's End

Business

Opinion

Rosner's Domain

Anglo File

Books

Travel



		Lebanese PM Fouad Siniora addressing a news conference as German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks on, in Berlin on Tuesday. (AP)

del.icio.us

Digg It! new

Last update - 19:50 05/09/2007

Lebanon seeks German aid in arming, training army to fight militants

By Reuters

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said Wednesday he wanted Germany to help arm and train Lebanon's army so that it is able to protect the country from militant groups that threaten its stability.

Speaking to reporters in Berlin, Siniora said a key lesson to be learned from Lebanon's 15-week battle against Al-Qaida-linked militants of Fatah al-Islam at a Palestinian refugee camp was that an effective Lebanese army was crucial.

"It is very important to support the Lebanese army with the necessary equipment, training, methods and ammunition so that it can ... be a deterrent force in the real sense of the word to any group that may think of playing with law and order in the country," he said after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

	Advertisement

Siniora reiterated that Lebanon was committed to rebuilding the refugee camp and asked donor countries, including Germany, for help in relief and reconstruction efforts.

Merkel did not specifically say Berlin would help supply the Lebanese military. However, she said it was necessary to rebuild the camp and promised German support.

German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul also met Siniora and promised him 4 million euros to ease the plight of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Syrian intelligence has been accused of backing the militants but Damascus and Fatah al-Islam reject the charge.

Neither Merkel nor Siniora mentioned this, although Merkel called on Syria not to undermine the Lebanese government.

"I would like to use this opportunity to appeal to Syria to recognize Lebanon and play a constructive role," she said. "Unfortunately that has not been the case so far."

Although the Lebanese army has traditionally stayed out of the Palestinian refugee camps, the recent battle at the Nahr al-Bared camp has changed that policy.

Siniora said it was "important to rebuild the camp and get it under the authority of the Lebanese government."

Under a 1969 Arab agreement, the Lebanese army was banned from entering Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps. While the agreement was later annulled, it remained largely in place until the Nahr al-Bared battle began.

The German government last month decided to extend for another year its participation in the German-led United Nations maritime task force in Lebanon, but cut the maximum number of personnel earmarked for the mission.

The UN peacekeeping force was sent to Lebanon last summer to monitor a cease-fire after the Second Lebanon War.

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	Prehistoric Haifa
	Hunting implements 250,000 years old were found in caves on Mount Carmel.


	Paint it black
	The Environment Ministry estimates that pollution kills about 600 Israelis each year.




1.	Good news	20:08	\|	Imad	05/09/07

2.	Good Idea	20:24	\|	Mark Lincoln	05/09/07

3.	to Imad	20:33	\|	El Topo	05/09/07

4.	#2 and defend	20:57	\|	wh	05/09/07

5.	What ever happened to Hizbollah protecting Lebanons Sovreignty?	21:31	\|	Niss	05/09/07

6.	mark Lincoln!!	22:18	\|	Danite	05/09/07

7.	#2 Mark Lincoln.......	23:18	\|	Lynn	05/09/07

8.	Nein danke	23:21	\|	S	05/09/07

9.	niss 5	23:46	\|	realism	05/09/07

10.	Excellent Idea	00:10	\|	Mark of Lewiston	06/09/07

11.	A word among friends.	00:11	\|	christoph	06/09/07

12.	to el loco oups! topo	00:31	\|	Rihan	06/09/07

13.	doubts	00:46	\|	ben	06/09/07

14.	German Trained Army in Lebanon - Not Such a Good Idea	14:53	\|	Reader	06/09/07

15.	Very good news	01:59	\|	Michael	07/09/07

Today Online


	U.S. prof. who says Jews use Holocaust to curb critics resigns
	Responses: 273


	Syrian military: We fired on IAF jet that violated our airspace
	Responses: 204


	Rights group: IDF 'indiscriminately ' hit Lebanon civilians
	Responses: 124


	Yet again, a British royal fails to make his visit to Israel official
	Responses: 105


	Editorial: Cutting off Gaza utilities illegal, counterproductive
	Responses: 60


	Arens: Only way to halt Qassams is to push them out of range
	Responses: 44

Rosner's Domain

Blog: Young American Jews are alienated from Israel

* WTR: A safe haven in Iran for terrorists

* Blog: From Arkansas to Jerusalem

* Why you should never trust my predictions ever again (if you ever did)

More Headlines
02:13 PM denies all knowledge of IAF entry into Syria airspace


00:55 Iran says Israel spreading regional insecurity, vows to aid Syria


01:54 Lebanon calls on Syria to reduce arms smuggling across border


23:08 ANALYSIS: The question is, how will Damascus respond?


23:38 IDF kills 10 Gaza militants; 6 die in bid to kidnap soldier


02:15 Jordan's Abdullah: U.S. must ensure success of Mideast conference


22:59 Hamas rejects Red Cross request to see abducted soldier Gilad Shalit


00:48 Peres, Benedict XVI, discuss Mideast peace efforts near Rome


23:36 Jerusalem man charged with murder escapes from mental hospital


22:23 State seeks to attach moral turpitude to Katsav's crimes