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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Siniora sez no interest in Israel peace talks
2008-12-26
Wouldn't be right, nope, nope ...
BEIRUT - Lebanon's Western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said his country has no interest in holding peace talks with neighbouring Israel at the moment.

‘I see no interest for us right now to discuss direct negotiations or indirect negotiations with Israel,’ Siniora said in an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation broadcast on Wednesday. ‘No one has challenged our claim of authority and ownership of the land that Israel occupies. So we see it as premature to take a decision in this regard as yet,’ he added.

Israel withrew from south Lebanon in 2000 after more than two decades of occupation, but Lebanon claims it is still occupying land on the border, including Shebaa Farms, a mountainous sliver of land rich in water resources.
Which belonged to Syria before the games began. If Israel ever gave up Shebaa the Lebanese would just claim something else ...
On Monday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his country would eventually embark on direct peace talks with Israel, but that they must be based on UN Security Council resolutions.

‘We are closely following what the Syrian Arab Republic is undertaking, but that is the decision of the Syrian Arab Republic... we in Lebanon have to look at our situation very carefully,’ Siniora said. ‘We always have said it is in Lebanon's interest to be the last country to enter into a peace process (with Israel),’ he added.

Siniora also welcomed the imminent opening of the first-ever Syrian embassy in Beirut after the two countries agreed to reestablish ties for the first time since independence 60 years ago. ‘It is a very important and fundamental step that lays the groundwork for other steps,’ the Lebanese premier said as he was told to say.
Posted by:Steve White

#1  No point talking peace until the Lebanon elections are over.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-12-26 11:47  

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