Lebanon's Prime Minister Salim Al-Hoss reiterated from New York Lebanon's commitment to the peace process in the Middle East. Hoss also voiced Lebanon's readiness, under the framework of the united Lebanese-Syrian peace tracks, to take part in the resumption of peace negotiations from where they left off in 1996 and according to the principles agreed upon in the Madrid Conference in 1991.
Prime Minister Hoss delivered Lebanon's speech to the 54th session of the UN General Assembly yesterday at 4:00 p.m. New York time. Hoss stressed the necessity of Israel's unconditional withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the Western Bekaa.
In his speech, Hoss also reiterated the statements voiced by President Emil Lahhoud during the Francophone Summit meeting in Canada earlier this month. The premier stressed the unity of the Lebanese-Syrian peace tracks and Lebanon's rejection of Palestinian resettlement in Lebanon.
The premier called on the international community to help Lebanon get rid of the Israeli occupation and pressure Israel to stop its daily aggressive measures against residents of the southern occupation zone and release all Lebanese detainees in its jails. Hoss stressed that Lebanon has a right in all its land pledging that the country will continue to resist the occupation as long as it persists.
The premier also praised the mission of UN Interim Forces in southern Lebanon and the sacrifices of peacekeeping troops in the area. Hoss added that despite the fact that 21 years have passed since the United National Security Council issued Resolution 425, the resolution remains unimplemented. The premier also listed the various Israeli wide-scale aggressions against Lebanon in addition to the daily attacks against southern Lebanon and the Western Bekaa.
Shortly after he delivered Lebanon's speech at the UN headquarters in New York, Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Al-Hoss held a meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Discussions centered on the peace settlement in the Middle East and the results of efforts paid to resume negotiations. Hoss briefed the UN chief on the ongoing Israeli attacks against Lebanon. The premier also repeated Lebanon's fixed stance from the regional peace process.
The half-an-hour-meeting was attended by Annan's aids and members in the Lebanese delegation, ambassadors Naji Abi Assi, Salim Tadmouri, Farid Abboud and Yehia Mahmassani.
In New York and on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, the Lebanese Premier held talks with a number of world officials and counterparts. Prime Minister Hoss is expected to return to Beirut on Sunday night.
President Emil Lahhoud described to visitors the latest Israeli aggression against a Lebanese Army position in Iqlim Al-Touffah as barbaric and as an act of cowardice.
The president today held talks over the phone with Hizbullah's Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nassrallah who extended his condolences for the president over the death of the Lebanese Army soldier and hoped that the six wounded soldiers would recover soon.
Israeli occupying troops in southern Lebanon this morning shelled the areas of Mazraat Al-Hamra, Touline, Zawtar, Hema Arnoun, the riverbanks of Zahrani and the valleys surrounding the Swaydaa Israeli outpost.
Israeli forces situated in Zaffateh and Swaydaa also shelled the fields of Sojod-Rayhan, Mazraat Okmata and the outskirts of Habboush. The shelling was accompanied by heavy fire launched on valleys surrounding the Israeli outposts in Dabshe, Bourj and Ali Taher.
For its part, the Lebanese Resistance today carried out attacks against Israeli soldiers and their allied militiamen in the positions of Swaydaa and the Shqeef Castle.
The official spokesman of the UN Interim Forces in southern Lebanon Timur Goksel today announced that two soldiers working under the Fijian battalion were slightly wounded late last night.
Goksel said the soldiers were injured when a landmine exploded near their tank while passing in the area of Mansouri. The two soldiers were taken to the Naqoura hospital for treatment.
Later today, UNIFIL sources announced that the explosion is intentional noting the recurrence of such incidences during the last year. The UNIFIL spokesman said an investigation is being carried out to determine the party responsible for planting the landmine.
Minister of Administrative Reform Hassan Shalaq and Minister of Public Health Karam Karam arrived in Beirut last night coming from the Egyptian capital.
Minister Karam, who took part in the meetings of the 46th session of the World Health Organization, told reporters at the airport the session coincides with the 50th anniversary of the WHO establishment. Karam revealed that he held talks in Cairo with First Lady Suzan Mubarak and Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal Al-Janzouri.
For his part, Minister Shalaq said he participated in the meetings of the Arab Organization for Administrative Development. The conference mainly centered on the topics of transparency and honesty in administration.
Information Minister Anwar Al-Khalil received an invitation from the Arab Institute for Human Rights and the General Confederation of Arab Journalists to attend the meetings of an Arab forum to discuss the role of Arab media in spreading the notion of human rights.
The meetings will be held in Cairo between September 28 and 30. The forum also aims at finding ways and scientific suggestions to develop the concept of human rights in Arab media outlets.
In his capacity as the head of the current session of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Suleiman Franjieh is expected to address Arab farmers on Monday.
In his speech, Franjieh will tackle the activities of the organization and possible ways of developing Arab agriculture in the new century. Franjieh's speech is expected to be broadcast live on Arab satellite channels.
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