Naturalization of Palestinians in Lebanon impossible
Wednesday, 08 July 2009 11:15
Al Manar
Lebanon, July 7 (Al Manar) Lebanese President Michel Sleiman expressed on Tuesday his hope that the United Kingdom would play a pressing role in moving Israel to accept the Arab peace initiative.
During his reception of a British parliamentary delegation accompanied by Britain's ambassador to Beirut Francis Guy, Sleiman stressed that "there is no solution to the Middle East crisis unless Israel gives the Palestinians their rights, and in particular the right of return."
He pointed that the solution "begins with the commitment to implementing the Arab peace initiative that was approved by the 2002 Arab summit in Beirut and later presented by the recent Arab summit in Doha, which offered this initiative as a proper entry towards a peace settlement."
The Lebanese president highlighted that Lebanon's constitutional, political and infrastructure position couldn't allow settling 400,000 Palestinians and provide them with a free and honorable livelihood "at the time when young Lebanese are immigrating overseas seeking a decent livelihood."
British MP Andrew Love reiterated his country's support to the Lebanese armed forces expressing his wish for further and continued military cooperation in exchanging expertise on the highest levels.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese President received on Tuesday visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier who started his visit to the Lebanese capital from the Baabda Presidential Palace.
The German FM congratulated the Lebanese President on achieving the parliamentary elections. Talks between Sleiman and Steinmeier focused on the deliberations taking place in the region to achieve a compromise based on the new US administration's approach.
For his part, President Sleiman called on his guest, Germany and the international community in general to pressure the Israeli enemy to start implementing the Arab peace initiative according to the time limits appointed by the Arab summit of Doha.
Steinmeier, who also met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-Designate Saad Hariri, said during a press conference that his talks in Lebanon were not limited to the parliamentary elections' outcome. He expressed hope the national dialogue would progress forward to more success.
"We hope the Prime Minister-designate Hariri would pick the right people to cabinet," the German Foreign Minister told reporters following his meeting with Hariri.
"There are real opportunities in the initiative of US President Obama that should be exploited," he also said.
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