The Daily Star, Lebanon
July 1 2005
U.K. firm on EU maintaining Lebanon effort
By Khalil Fleihan
Daily Star correspondent
Friday, July 01, 2005
BEIRUT: On the start of the United Kingdom’s six-month term as head
of the EU, the British Embassy announced its intention to concentrate
on work in Lebanon that contributes to global security, stability
and prosperity.
In a statement, the embassy said: “In Lebanon the key issues will be
taken forward in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
Priorities in the co-operation between the EU and Lebanon are:
democracy and human rights, economic and institutional development,
education and youth, improving the living conditions of Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon, environment and cultural exchanges.”
The U.K. will also lead the EU Troika (comprising the U.K., Austria
as future EU head and the European Commission) in representing the
EU in contacts with the Lebanese government.
Meanwhile, French Ambassador Bernard Emie informed Foreign Minister
Mahmoud Hammoud about the outcome of the conference held in Paris on
June 13 to discuss assistance to Lebanon according to a program set
forth by the new Lebanese government.
The conference, which included the participation of U.S. Ambassador
Jeffrey Feltman and Emie, as well as representatives of the EU and
the International Monetary Fund, focused on the political and economic
situation in Lebanon.
However, to the surprise of the gathered participants, Lebanon was
absent from the event.
In a press conference, Emie said Hammoud was not informed on time
about the conference, due to his absence from the country.
Emie revealed that participants proposed the reform of the UN Security
Council and its expansion to include new permanent and nonpermanent
members in a bid to increase its efficiency and restructure it in a
way that suits the world’s the geopolitical and geostrategic balances.
Russian Foreign Ambassador Alexander Saltanov expressed support to
the people’s electoral choices, saying he hoped Lebanon would succeed
in proceeding to democratic, social and economic development in a
climate of national consensus and stability.
Saltanov, who also met with Hammoud, said Russia fully supports
Lebanon’s objection to foreign interference in its domestic affairs.
The ambassador said: “The future of any nation in the region is linked
to the basic issue here, which is finding a fair and comprehensive
settlement between Israel and the Arab world.”
He added: “As supervisor of the International Peace Conference and
member of the International Committee for the Peace Process, Russia
will strive to reach this goal.”
Hammoud’s Armenian counterpart, Vardan Oskanyan said Armenia and
Lebanon share the same political view on the Arab-Israeli conflict,
adding both countries were coordinating their stands in international
forums as to the respect of international resolutions.
Oskanyan, in Beirut to hand out diplomas to graduating students at
Haigazian University, described his meeting with Hammoud as “positive
and fruitful.”
He said: “We are looking up to the Lebanese in their reconstruction
program and wish them success and stability.”
The ambassador also visited Beirut MP Saad Hariri, after which he
said Armenia was looking forward to consolidating cooperation with
the newly elected MPs and future Cabinet.
Oskanyan congratulated Hariri on his overwhelming victory in the
parliamentary elections and headed to Beirut’s Central District to
pray for the soul of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
In his second meeting with a Lebanese official, Oskanyan informed
former Prime Minister Najib Mikati of the improvement in Armenian
trade following recent Lebanese investments in the country.
He said: “We hope that this cooperation lasts because we believe in the
potentials of both countries, especially since there is no political
feud, which can set strong foundations to the economic relations.”