UK: 'Lebanon's friends' see eye to eye on crisis

by **Admin** Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:07 pm

British
Foreign Minister David Miliband said that the international meeting
held on the sidelines of the conference of Iraq's neighboring states in
Kuwait on Tuesday was a very important meeting for Lebanon's friends,
as it "reflected similar points of view regarding Lebanon," according
to remarks published in the Ash-Sharq al-Awsat daily on Wednesday.

The
meeting included representatives from the US, France, Kuwait, the
United Arab, Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt,
Britain, Italy and Germany. "The meeting called on Syria to recognize
the Lebanese borders," Miliband said. "There is a clear Lebanese
consensus and an Arab initiative supporting the presidential candidate.
Yet his candidacy is facing several obstacles," he added.

Miliband
called on Lebanon's friends to support it by financially backing the
Special Tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former
Premier Rafik Hariri. He also said there was no lack of communication
with Syria but only a lack of cooperation. When asked if Syria's
presence at the meeting would have been positive, Miliband said the
meeting was held among Lebanon's friends. Commenting on Iran's role in
Lebanon, Miliband said that Tehran could either cooperate on the
regional level, or it would further isolate itself.