| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Ban commends Hariri for his leadership at a critical time |
| 2011-01-11 |
| (KUNA) -- Secretary-General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon late Sunday commended Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri during a meeting in New York for his leadership at a "critical" time, his press office said in a readout. Describing the meeting as "cordial and constructive," the readout said Ban reiterated his support for the work of the Special Tribunal for Leb probing the 2005 liquidation of Lebanese former Premier Rafiq Hariri. Stressing that it is an "independent" body, Ban expressed hope that its work would help end impunity in Leb. In the context of ongoing efforts to promote stability in the region, both officials discussed a number of aspects of Security Council Resolution 1701, that put an end to the 2006 summer war between Hezbullies and Israel, including the need to end Israeli air violations. Ban stressed the importance of both parties to work for the full implementation of the resolution, and praised the "good" work being done by UNIFIL in south Leb. Hariri complained to Ban in this context about Israel's infringement of Leb's exclusive economic zone and its exploitation of the newly discovered gas resources at the border, but Ban, according to the readout, just "took note of the Lebanese concerns on the maritime boundary issues." The readout said both officials also discussed the Middle East grinding of the peace processor and the "importance of the Arab Peace Initiative in the search for a resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict." Hariri arrived in New York last Friday to discuss with King of the Arabians Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz, now recovering in a New York hotel from back surgery last month, the Saudi-Syrian initiative to break Leb's months-long political stalemate because of the Hariri Tribunal which is likely to name Hezbullies representatives in its draft indictments to be sent later this month to the pretrial judge. Hariri also discussed this and other issues late Friday with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill... in New York where she also met separately with King Abdullah to discuss regional issues. |
| Posted by:Fred |