Suleiman in Ankara Urges “Calm” Approach to Hizbullah-Egypt Crisis
Lebanon is trying to put an end to escalating tensions between Egypt and Hizbullah, President Michel Suleiman said Tuesday at a joint press conference with Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in Ankara.
"Any approach to contain (the crisis) between Hizbullah and Egypt must take place in an atmosphere of calm. We are working on the matter," Suleiman said.
Ten days ago, Cairo announced the arrest of a cell led by a Hizbullah agent accused of plotting attacks in Egypt. Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has denied claims of trying to destabilize Egypt saying the detained agent was tasked with smuggling weapons to Palestinians in Gaza.
Suleiman and the first lady arrived in Ankara Tuesday morning on a one day visit.
Talks between Gul and Suleiman also focused on U.S. President Barack Obama”s Middle East policies and efforts to reconcile Israel and the Palestinians.
"We reviewed the new (U.S.) policies towards the region in light of President Obama”s recent visit to Turkey," Suleiman told reporters.
Two weeks ago, in an address to Turkey”s parliament, Obama said "the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."
Obama also reached out to the Muslim world, saying that the United States "is not and never will be at war with Islam."
Suleiman underscored support for an Arab peace plan, on the table since 2002, which offers Israel full normalization of ties in return for its withdrawal from occupied Arab land.
Pointing to the Arab peace plan and the 2007 Annapolis documents, Gul also urged the new Israeli government "to endorse all that work… and continue from there, without rejecting the point that has been reached."
Turkish and Lebanese officials signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in military training among several other deals.