NEW YORK, 22 April 2006 — Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora yesterday urged Syria to accept an independent Lebanon, normalize diplomatic relations and accept the delineation of borders between the two neighbors. Siniora said relations with Syria are a “major challenge” for Beirut because of “heavy-handed interference in Lebanese domestic affairs by the Syrian security,” and other events in the last 19 months.
In remarks to the United Nations Security Council, he said Syrian security officials had inflicted damages in Lebanon that were not easy to heal. Siniora appeared before the council to discuss the political situation in his country, where a UN investigation has been underway to find those responsible for the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February, 2005.
He asked Syria to show “a genuine recognition that a free and sovereign Lebanon can have good relations with Syria and can serve the Syrian and Arab interests better.” Hariri’s death, by a car bomb in Beirut, led to a local and international outcry and the end of Syria’s 30-year military presence in its tiny neighbor.
But a UN report this week claimed that Syrian intelligence has told Lebanese legislators to extend the term of President Emile Lahoud, a pro-Syrian politician, warning that failure to heed the demand would “put their personal security at risk.” Lahoud’s 6-year-term expired in 2004 and was renewed for three years under Syrian insistence.
Earlier in Washington, Siniora said the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Shebaa Farms is a key step for Lebanon to regain control of its territory. The small mountainous Shebaa Farms territory lies at the point where the borders of Lebanon, Syria and Israel meet. Israel captured the area from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War, and it is now claimed by Lebanon, with Damascus’ consent.
Israeli troops have retained control of the area since their withdrawal from south Lebanon in May 2000 after two decades of occupation. It remains the scene of clashes between Israeli forces and the Lebanese-based Hezbollah resistance movement. “The withdrawal of Israeli forces is a very important step to allow Lebanon to control his territory,” Siniora said, speaking after meeting US President George W. Bush on Tuesday.
Israel’s withdrawal from the area could lead to Hezbollah’s disarmament, as the movement says it needs weapons only to defend against Israel, Siniora said earlier. Siniora said he raised the issue of Shebaa Farms with Bush at his at his White House meeting. “I believe President Bush listened very carefully to Lebanon’s requests,” he said, adding that he believes Bush “is sincere” in his support for Lebanon becoming “a model of democracy in the region.” Concerning its neighbors, Lebanon wants to have “very good relations with Syria,” but one based on “mutual respect,” he said.
Asked if Lebanon can envision establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, Siniora said: “Well yes, when we achieve peace. Let me state it very clearly, when you talk about the Arabic issue of achieving peace it states clearly that we’ll have natural relations, normal relations between Lebanon and the Arab countries and with Israel.
