Daily Star - Sleiman reiterates refusal to settle Palestinian refugees in Lebanon - September 25, 2010

By Wassim Mroueh and Nafez Kawas

Sleiman reiterates refusal to settle Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman reiterated on Friday Lebanon’s refusal to settle Palestinian refugees on its territories, saying such a step undermined stability in the country.

“Lebanon has said it will not accept the settlement of Palestinians for several reasons, especially due to dangers that will result from the settlement which will undermine security and stability,” he said when delivering Lebanon’s address at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Sleiman noted that the “issue of Palestinian refugees cannot be resolved through negotiations from [afar].”

The president highlighted the role of the international community in meeting the needs of Palestinian refugees by boosting its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Sleiman touched on the continuous Israeli violations of Security Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the summer 2006 war with Israel.

“At a time when Lebanon commits to Resolution 1701, Israel continues its violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, and those are violations mentioned by [UN] Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his report. Also, Israeli spy networks require a response from the international community to prevent [Israel] from pursuing such aggression and to force it to withdraw from the Shebaa Farms, the Kfarshouba hills, and the northern part of the village of Ghajar,” said Sleiman, adding: “We retain our right to liberate the remaining [occupied] part of our land through all possible and legitimate means.”

The president praised efforts pursued by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), stressing “the importance of continuing its cooperation with the Lebanese Army.”

“This cooperation is only faced by arrogant actions taken by Israel … Israel is the main reason behind incidents occurring along the blue line,” Sleiman said.

He added that Lebanon “sought to cement its stability by abiding by Security Council resolutions and the Taif Accord.”

“The state is keen on respecting all constitutional deadlines whether in municipal or parliamentary polls,” said Sleiman, vowing to “continue in this path amid support from our people and friendly states.”

“Lebanon will remain open to dialogue, loyal to its message and keen on supporting what is right and promoting the values of freedom and consensus democracy on which it was established from the beginning,” said the president.

He praised “efforts to enhance the role of the Security Council away from double standards.”

Sleiman reiterated “Lebanon’s condemnation of international terrorism,” adding that Lebanon supported the adoption of a unified definition for international terrorism, that distinguished it from resisting occupation “which is endorsed by all laws.”

He said that despite its developmental and social role, the UN remains a political organization “par excellence.”

On the sidelines of the UN General assembly, Sleiman held talks with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman.

Also, Sleiman discussed developments in Lebanon and the region with the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He also held talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

Earlier, Sleiman made a speech during a special meeting convened by delegation leaders to discuss means to support Somalia.

Sleiman endorsed Djibouti’s peace process and called for supporting the African Union’s mission to Somalia to enable it to restore peace in the country.

The president also attended a reception held by US President Barak Obama in honor of heads of delegations participating in the UN General Assembly.

On Thursday, Sleiman delivered an address to a Security Council session convened by his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, during which he stressed that Lebanon was still looking forward to a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Lebanon is currently the only Arab country member of the UN Security Council.

Sleiman stressed that “Lebanon will not accept any solution to the Middle East conflict in which it is not involved, or that contradicts its higher national interests, chief among them its right to reject any form of settlement of Palestinian refugees on its territories.”

Following the session, Sleiman discussed with Gul the regional situation, along with the role Lebanon was currently playing as a representative of the Arab states in the Security Council.

The two agreed on coordinating positions to serve mutual interests and stability in the region.