Lebanon Rivals Adjourn Tricky Defense Talks
Rival political leaders in Lebanon on Monday adjourned for more than a month negotiations on a national defense strategy at the heart of which lies the thorny issue of Hizbullah”s weapons.
A statement from the presidency said a team of experts will be formed to examine proposals on a defense strategy, and that another round of talks will be held on March 2 at the Baabda presidential place.
It added that participants agreed to work on the implementation of previous agreements concerning the issue of Palestinian weapons outside the country”s 12 refugee camps, which house an estimated 400,000 people.
The Palestinians themselves police the camps, but outside the camps weapons are also held by the pro-Syrian Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and by Fatah Intifada.
Pressure has been mounting in Lebanon to tackle the issue of Palestinian weapons outside the camps after rockets were fired from the south into northern Israel during the Jewish state”s 22-day onslaught on the Gaza Strip.
Fourteen leaders from the main parliamentary blocs are taking part in the talks chaired by President Michel Suleiman.
A major stumbling block in agreeing a common defense strategy has been the Shiite Hizbullah group”s arsenal.
Members of the Western-backed parliamentary majority say Hizbullah”s weapons undermine the state”s authority, but the group refuses to disarm, arguing that its armaments and militia are essential to defend the country against Israel.
MP Butros Harb suggested the following points as part of his proposal for a national defense strategy:
a) Adoption of a national defense strategy that the state would commit to, in defending Lebanon and in liberating occupied territories.
b) State to fully implement UNSCR 1701 in all its articles.
c) State to commit to Taef accords and in particular the state of truce between Lebanon and Israel, while extending Lebanese armed forces authority over internationally recognized borders.
d) State to strengthen armed forces by all available means.
e) State to adopt modern and advanced methods in equipping and training military, under supervision of Lebanon”s military general command.
f) Hizbullah to deliver its arms to the Lebanese military under a specific timetable and program.
g) State to take measures in protecting Hizbullah leaders and cadres.
h) Strengthening international guarantees for Lebanon.
i) State to officially request from Syria to provide signed documents demarking borders for Shebaa Farms.
j) State to immediately begin collecting Palestinian arms inside and outside refugee camps as agreed to at the national dialogue.
k) State to approve draft constitutional amendment proposed by members of parliament that calls for a parliament unanimous decision for any resolution for settling Palestinians in Lebanon. A matter that would prevent settling Palestinians in Lebanon.
l) Lebanon to stay away from any regional axis and announce its positive neutrality.
m) All political parties and players to commit to all of the above in affirming national unity and independence of Lebanon.