Israel Willing to Pay for Peace with Syria which Lebanon could also Benefit From
U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams said Israel was willing to "pay for peace" with Syrian which Lebanon could also benefit from.
In an interview with the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat published Sunday, Williams said regional changes could facilitate an Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa Farms in 2009.
Williams hoped that indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria, establishment of diplomatic ties between Lebanon and Syria and the new U.S. administration would "facilitate a debate between the U.N. and officials in Israel over the issue of (Israeli troops) pullout from Shebaa Farms during 2009."
He pointed that settling the issue of internal arms "usually takes a long time and requires patience," in reference to Hizbullah weapons.
Williams, however, said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has expressed willingness to pay for peace with Syria, stressing that Lebanon would benefit from this.
He believed that establishment of Lebanese-Syrian ties could also contribute to finding a settlement to Palestinian weapons outside refugee camps and to the issue of border crossings.
Williams said the U.N. was willing to help Lebanon in the 2009 parliamentary elections.