Thus, and after the meetings that joined Hariri and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN chief Ban Ki-moon who reiterated support for the so-called Special Tribunal for Lebanon, all eyes are directed to the presidential summit that would join US and French Presidents Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy, a summit that would discuss the Lebanese current crisis in its details.
Meanwhile, Ban reiterated his support for the work of the STL, expressing hope during his meeting with Hariri its work would help end impunity in Lebanon, stressing that it was an independent body.
Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said after the Ban-Hariri meeting that the Secretary-General commended the prime minister for his leadership of Lebanon at a critical time. “They had a cordial and constructive meeting,” he said in a statement. Ban and Hariri also "discussed regional and other efforts to promote stability," the spokesman added.
Hariri’s press office said that the Prime Minister has insisted on the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 (=Disarming Hezbullah) and urged the UN chief to increase pressure on Israel to end all violations of Lebanese borders, and to help prevent it from exploiting underwater oil and gas.
"The secretary general stressed the importance of both parties working for the full implementation of the resolution, and the good work being done by UNIFIL. He took note of the Lebanese concerns on the maritime boundary issues."
CLINTON WORRIED…
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed concern Monday over attempts to "destabilize" Lebanon amid tensions there linked to the international tribunal. "I'm deeply worried about the efforts to destabilize Lebanon," Clinton said in Abu Dhabi during the taping of a television talk show when asked by an interviewer about the political crisis in Lebanon and concerns of war.
"We should do everything we can to make sure those warnings are not accurate," Clinton said, when asked to comment on warnings of a regional conflict. "It's very important we look at how disastrous a war would be for everyone and it still is a fact there is no solution to the problems that beset the area through war," Clinton said.
"I've also been working with the Saudis, and the French and the Egyptians, and others, to try to make sure we stabilize Lebanon and prevent any outside interest or anyone within Lebanon who is getting direction from outside interests from taking steps that will destabilize Lebanon and perhaps provoke conflict," Clinton said on Monday.
‘Syrian-Saudi Initiative Ongoing Regardless of Obstacles’
10/01/2011 Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Assiri stated on Monday that the Saudi-Syrian initiative to end the Lebanese political crisis is ongoing regardless of the internal or external obstacles.
He said that Saudi King Abdullah is following up on the developments in Lebanon and is keen on the country's safety.
The ambassador stressed the importance of dialogue between the Lebanese parties, saying that dialogue remains positive irrespective of the differences between the political camps.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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