Suleiman to Spain's King: Lebanon, UNIFIL Facing Dangerous Israeli Threats

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Lebanon and UNIFIL are facing dangerous Israeli threats and the international community has to stop Israel's threats and to force it to implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, President Michel Suleiman said during a state dinner in honor of visiting Spanish King Juan Carlos.
The president stressed that the transfer of UNIFIL's command to Spain is an important occasion to seek the implementation of UNSCR 1701, reminding of "the historical initiative launched from Madrid in 1991 that aimed to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on U.N. resolutions."

He added that the Arab peace initiative endorsed in Beirut's Arab Summit in 2002 was based on Spain's peace initiative.

"A similar initiative was launched from Barcelona to achieve Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and growth … but the international community has not been able since that date to achieve any progress due to Israel's blatant intransigence, its practices, and its persistence in building settlements," added Suleiman.

"Lebanon appreciates Spain's eagerness to join UNIFIL forces after the July 2006 war."

The president reiterated Lebanon's commitment to UNSCR 1701 and voiced full support for UNIFIL and its new Spanish Commander Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas, saluting the efforts of Spain since the year 1978.

Suleiman stressed that Israel is the side violating UNSCR 1701.

Spanish King Juan Carlos had arrived Monday evening in Beirut on a two-day visit to Lebanon during which he will inspect Spanish troops serving with UNIFIL in south Lebanon.

The King was accompanied by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

The trip comes just days after Spain took over UNIFIL's command which was set up in 1978 to monitor Lebanon's border with Israel.

Juan Carlos' trip, however, is not a state visit in response to an invitation formerly extended by Suleiman, which explains why Queen Sofia did not accompany her husband this time.

The Spanish king is expected to start a 3-day state visit to Lebanon along with his wife next July or ultimately by September, according to the Central News Agency.

Earlier Monday, Suleiman said that If Israel decided to launch war on Lebanon, the conflict wouldn't be just a stroll for it.
In remarks to a visiting delegation from the Editors Syndicate headed by Melhem Karam, Suleiman hoped appointments in state institutions would be made from within the administrative corps.

The president stressed on the necessity of holding municipal elections on time and said he was satisfied with the government' performance but not its productivity.

As to the Ethiopian plane disaster, Suleiman hailed "the efforts of the army and its Navy Commando Regiment in the ongoing search operations to recover the plane's debris and victims."

Answering a question on whether Lebanon would participate in Libya's Arab summit, Suleiman said the issue is "under discussion," adding that "this issue is to be decided inside the Cabinet despite not being raised yet."

Beirut, 08 Feb 10, 21:30


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