French FM calls for Iran and Syria to help stabilize Lebanon
Kouchner says 'exterior influences' intensified crisis after little progress achieved in 2-day Beirut visit.
By DPAFrench Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Sunday in Cairo that Iran and Syria should be pressured to help secure stability in Lebanon.
"The Lebanese crisis is difficult and complicated, and with exterior influences, it has become one of the most difficult problems in the world," he said during a stop in Egypt to brief Arab foreign ministers about his talks in Lebanon.
He stressed that "pressure is needed ... meaning that Syria and Iran must not exercise influence that could lead to war," he said in a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.
Earlier Sunday, Kouchner ended a two-day visit to Lebanon without achieving tangible progress, though he managed to gather representatives of Lebanon's feuding factions around the same table during a luncheon in Beirut.
"The simple fact that thanks to our efforts ... Lebanese from all communities are talking together - something they haven't done for nine months - is a small progress," Kouchner said. "France is doing what it can, but it cannot solve the problem in the place of the Lebanese."
He said that Iran and Syria are among countries already involved, "which could have a very negative effect on what is going to happen in Lebanon."
Kouncher's efforts to solve the Lebanese political situation coincided with a similar visit by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, who arrived Sunday in Lebanon.
"I am happy to pursue the efforts exerted by France to resolve the crisis," Moratinos told reporters after meeting briefly with Kouchner at the Beirut airport.
Moratinos met later with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora.
On Monday, Moratinos is scheduled to meet with more Lebanese leaders and is to inspect Spanish's troops who are deployed with the United Nation's peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.
The resignation in November 2006 of six pro-Syrian cabinet ministers including five Shiites sparked Lebanon's worst political crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.
If Lebanese political leaders fail to resolve their differences in the coming weeks, observers fear a power vacuum or even the creation of rival governments, which could spark more violence.
The Hezbollah-led opposition has demanded establishment of a national unity government in which the opposition would have veto powers.
The anti-Syrian majority has rejected the demand and insisted that the opposition should stop blocking parliamentary sessions to allow the quorum required for presidential elections to replace pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud by a November 25 deadline.
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For your info since this world exist we never say please to any body and we will never say please. We only say please for respect not for merci. But you should say good buy Israel because this end because you are different from human beings no body on the world can accept you even Benjamin Franklin. He left a letter to American people that take care from Jewish because if you let them control our country your sons will curse you in your grove. Do you mean what this letter mean. It means you are nothing and with our faith we will back you to desert because your right place is there
Hey, French, neither Syria nor Iran has been occupying any body else lands in the Middle East. Israel does. So, go to Israel, beg them to stabilize Lebanon. Stupid.
Yes the Lebanese will fix that but how? If you can advice us , because as u know that Lebanon is divided into groups, one is supported from Americans and France and the other from Syria and Iran. Our army since 1990 until today not one industrial company thought in supporting them, they were depending in Syria influence and approval to manage things in Lebanon approved by the American, and within that period. All the years am sure that those countries knew that Hezbola is accumulating missiles from Iran and Syria and what is funny that it was passing through Syria land approved by the American since that. We can fix them, but first we need to provide and support our army with defensive weaponry. Second, we need our land Shebaa and release our resistance leaders in Israel Finally, a peace process should be encouraged in the Middle East so in that way we will give a peace environment here in Middle East. Unfortunately, am viewing an opposite picture since the Americans is still providing Israel and many others with destructive missiles.
The effort by Mr. Kouchner is laudable. At least he is sound enough in his appreciation of the situation to understand that neither Iran or Syria is driving the situation. Siniora's government survived the Second Lebanon War, but that war bolstered the position of Hizbollah and caused a realignment of real political power not represented by the now quite archaic power sharing formula of the constitution. Both Iran and Syria have an interest in the situation. Iran because it has dreams - delusions many would say - of righting the "wrong" of Sunni domination of Islam. Syria because Lebanon is the weak sister which - without a strong Hizbollah - does not protect Syria's west flank. Each can make things worse, though it is hard to see how either would benefit. In the end, the central problem is that the government of Lebanon was cast in cement over half a century ago and the situation has drastically changed since then. Only the Lebanese can fix this.
Sounds like Miss "Must" Livni's script. Always tellin the enemy what they "MUST" DO!
Put Hizbullah into power???????????