Arab League Chief in Beirut, Holds Talks with Aoun

Arab League chief Ahmed Abu el-Gheit stressed on Monday that the Arab League is keen on “understanding” Lebanon's “special composition” after naming Hizbullah a “terror” organization, assuring that no one accepts any harm for the Mediterranean country.

“No one wants to harm Lebanon we understand it has its own particularity,” said Abu el-Gheit after holding a meeting with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace.

“I explained to the President the circumstances that surrounded the Arab League's meeting and the closing statement,” he added.

Earlier after arriving at the Rafik Hariri International Airport Monday, Abu el-Gheit stressed to reporters that the Arab countries "have great understanding for Lebanon's position and that they want to spare it from becoming embroiled in conflicts," the National News Agency reported.

Al-Joumhouria daily reported that the Arab League chief was not delegated by the Arab foreign ministers' conference following its Sunday statement.

He will also hold talks with senior Lebanese officials, and will take part in a conference called by ESCWA for the regional economic commissions in the Arab countries.

Arab diplomatic sources told the daily that “it was a coincidence for Abu el-Gheit to travel to Lebanon one day after the Arab League meeting, and that he will participate in a conference invited by the ESCWA.”

The closing statement of an emergency Arab League meeting on Sunday labeled Hizbullah as “terrorist”, which prompted Lebanon’s representative to voice reservations over certain clauses.

The statement accused Hizbullah of “training terrorist groups” in Bahrain, “supporting terrorist groups” in Saudi Arabia, and “supporting terror and terrorist groups in Arab countries with advanced weapons and ballistic missiles.”

And describing Hizbullah as a “partner in the Lebanese government,” the statement also accused the group of “spreading extremism and sectarianism” and “interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.”

According to the daily, talks between Aoun and Abul Gheit will discuss the positions of Lebanon calling for intensifying the work of the Arab League based on the positions launched during a visit to its headquarters last February.

Aoun will also recall Lebanon's proposals calling on the Arab League to lead a joint Arab action aimed at ending differences by diplomatic means and renouncing the use of arms in resolving Arab-Arab disputes, said the daily.