British Prime Minister Tony Blair showed "commitment to give and extend the necessary support" to Lebanon on the matter of the occupied Shebaa Farms, Lebanese Premier Fouad Siniora said Tuesday. Siniora, who met Blair at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, told AFP: "I think I have heard very good, encouraging remarks from Blair and readiness to extend the necessary support to Lebanon."According to AFP, Siniora "urged Britain to help put pressure on Israel to withdraw its troops" from Shebaa. "There is a great understanding of our situation and real commitment," Siniora said.
Lebanon and Syria have agreed that the strip of border land is Lebanese, but the United Nations has demanded documentation that has not been forthcoming from Damascus. Siniora also touched on the matter in a speech delivered at Chatham House in London on Tuesday, saying demarcating the Lebanese-Syrian border would help resolve the matter. "Border delineation is important because it has direct implications for our ability to liberate the Shebaa Farms area," Siniora said. "Agreeing with Syria on the border line that separates the Shebaa Farms from the Syrian Golan will be an important step in redrawing the line of Israel's withdrawal under Resolution 425. The Syrian government has already declared that the Shebaa Farms region is part of Lebanese territory," he added. "We have approached the Syrian government in order to delineate the border line in that region. We are still waiting for a positive response. We are also seeking UN clarification of the steps needed to document our sovereignty."