Suleiman: New Documents Prove Lebanese Identity of Shabaa Farms, communication means to reconciliation
President Michel Sleiman underlined “the importance of communication among confessions in Lebanon, which constitute a source of rich variety in Lebanon.”
After meeting with Maronite leader Joseph Tarabay, Sleiman said that he would pay special attention to the issue of national reconciliation as he promised in his inaugural speech “to topple the rancor and hatred among the Lebanese.”
Sleiman emphasized the role of the Lebanese diaspora and the need to strengthen communication with expatriates. “An expatriate’s ability to contribute to the advancement of their motherland … can be ensured through a mechanism of continued liaison,” he noted.
Meanwhile, President Michel Suleiman has said Lebanon will present new documents to the United Nations proving that the Israeli-occupied Shabaa farms area is Lebanese, a move that could activate diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a solution to the issue.
Suleiman made the announcement to British Foreign Secretary David Miliband who was on a visit to Lebanon on Monday.
Media reports on Tuesday said the newly-elected president also stressed to Miliband Lebanon”s right to regain its sovereignty over the Shabaa farms zone and Kfarshouba hills.
Lebanese sources told Al Hayat on Monday that the Shabaa Farms issue was also discussed during talks between Suleiman and French President Nicolas Sarkozy over the weekend.
The sources said Suleiman saw an Israeli withdrawal from the area "would pave the way for a defense strategy agreement among the Lebanese and a settlement of the (Hizbullah) arms issue."
An Nahar daily on Tuesday quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the British Foreign Secretary promised Lebanese leaders during his visit to Beirut that he will discuss the Shabaa issue with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon in London next week.
The sources said that Miliband will talk with Ban on ways to convince Israel to withdraw from the farms area after Suleiman revealed that Lebanon had new documents proving the identity of Shabaa.
Miliband asked Suleiman to send copies of the documents to the British government, according to the sources.
"As a member of the U.N. Security Council, we are fully committed to play our part and to urge others to do so in ensuring that all of Resolution 1701 is put into practice, including the Shebaa Farms issue," Miliband said Monday.
Resolution 1701 brought an end to a devastating war between Israel and Hizbullah in the summer of 2006 and called for the U.N. secretary general to make a proposal for the delineation of the disputed Shebaa Farms area.