Hezbollah to French Ambassador: UNIFIL Crossed Red Lines
21/07/2009 For the second time in less than one month, French Ambassador to Beirut Andre Parant paid a visit to the southern suburb of Beirut where he held a meeting with Hezbollah international relations official Ammar Moussawi in another sign of the French openness to talks with Hezbollah.
The latest incident that took place in the southern town of Kherbet Selm between its residents and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) constituted the main topic raised during the meeting where the two men stressed on the necessity to commit by the international resolution 1701 that manages the UNIFIL's mission in South Lebanon.
The French ambassador told the Hezbollah official that France was sticking to the commitment of all sides to implement the UN resolution 1701 and to coordinate with the UNIFIL to achieve this ultimate goal. He told his host that his country denounces all violations of the international resolution regardless of the identity of the side behind them.
Following the meeting, the French ambassador told reporters that he was very concerned over the latest incidents in the South, urging all concerned side to have self-control and self-restrain to contain the situation. He recalled that France was abiding by the necessity of implementing the resolution 1701 in coordination with the UNIFIL forces.
For his part, Moussawi informed his guest that Hezbollah believes that the UNIFIL forces went beyond its responsibilities and the limits of its mission. He said that what happened constituted a provocation to the Kherbet Selm residents, stressing that their reaction was spontaneous and natural.
The Hezbollah official reiterated his party's commitment to the international resolution 1701, expressing full readiness to cooperate with all concerned parties to guarantee its full implementation.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in turn received Parant in Ain al-Tineh and discussed with him the situation in South Lebanon and the new cabinet formation.
Following the meeting, Parant expressed deep concern, which he told reporters was shared with the UN, over what happened in South Lebanon. The ambassador also called for all parties to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to fully coordinate with the peacekeeping forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to implement the resolution.
Parant told reporters that he and Berri agreed that it is important to refrain from acts that lead to tension, saying that France and the speaker "hope that the cabinet will be formed as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, Hezbollah security chief Wafiq Safa discussed with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams recent events in the village of Khirbet Selm and Israel's repeated violations of Lebanon's sovereignty.
21/07/2009 For the second time in less than one month, French Ambassador to Beirut Andre Parant paid a visit to the southern suburb of Beirut where he held a meeting with Hezbollah international relations official Ammar Moussawi in another sign of the French openness to talks with Hezbollah.
The latest incident that took place in the southern town of Kherbet Selm between its residents and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) constituted the main topic raised during the meeting where the two men stressed on the necessity to commit by the international resolution 1701 that manages the UNIFIL's mission in South Lebanon.
The French ambassador told the Hezbollah official that France was sticking to the commitment of all sides to implement the UN resolution 1701 and to coordinate with the UNIFIL to achieve this ultimate goal. He told his host that his country denounces all violations of the international resolution regardless of the identity of the side behind them.
Following the meeting, the French ambassador told reporters that he was very concerned over the latest incidents in the South, urging all concerned side to have self-control and self-restrain to contain the situation. He recalled that France was abiding by the necessity of implementing the resolution 1701 in coordination with the UNIFIL forces.
For his part, Moussawi informed his guest that Hezbollah believes that the UNIFIL forces went beyond its responsibilities and the limits of its mission. He said that what happened constituted a provocation to the Kherbet Selm residents, stressing that their reaction was spontaneous and natural.
The Hezbollah official reiterated his party's commitment to the international resolution 1701, expressing full readiness to cooperate with all concerned parties to guarantee its full implementation.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in turn received Parant in Ain al-Tineh and discussed with him the situation in South Lebanon and the new cabinet formation.
Following the meeting, Parant expressed deep concern, which he told reporters was shared with the UN, over what happened in South Lebanon. The ambassador also called for all parties to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to fully coordinate with the peacekeeping forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to implement the resolution.
Parant told reporters that he and Berri agreed that it is important to refrain from acts that lead to tension, saying that France and the speaker "hope that the cabinet will be formed as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, Hezbollah security chief Wafiq Safa discussed with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams recent events in the village of Khirbet Selm and Israel's repeated violations of Lebanon's sovereignty.
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