| The Daily Star |
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SIDON, Lebanon: British Ambassador Frances Guy affirmed over the weekend her country’s call for the Lebanese Cabinet to adhere to all international resolutions, including the one that established the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
When asked about her country’s views on the Cabinet’s policy statement and whether the British government would cooperate with its Lebanese counterpart, Guy said it would cooperate, as the Cabinet received a vote of confidence in Parliament. But she reiterated the views of the European Union’s chief diplomat Catherine Ashton, who had expressed concern over the article in the ministerial statement on the STL and called on Lebanon to uphold its international obligations.
“We will certainly cooperate with the government because it is present and gained a vote of confidence in Parliament, and we welcome [the Cabinet’s] commitment to work on the necessary reforms … but the Europeans are concerned about the article [in the Cabinet statement] dealing with the Special Tribunal [for Lebanon],” Guy said.
In response to a question on her views on Lebanese politics as she prepares to leave her post, Guy said: “Politics in Lebanon needs diplomatic work for the next hundred years.”
Guy was speaking during a visit to Sidon, where she surveyed the excavation led by a delegation from the British Museum, in cooperation with the Directorate General of Antiquities, at the Frères’ archaeological site at the old city’s entrance.
Guy was accompanied by Sidon MP Bahia Hariri’s representative, Ali al-Sharif, Sidon Mayor Mohammad Saudi’s representative, Ibrahim Bsat, and members of the municipal council.
Following an explanation by the head of the British Museum delegation, Claude Doumit Serhal, on the excavation’s recent archaeological discoveries, Guy said: “I came here for the first time around four years ago, and each year I see the efforts of those engaged in excavation works reveal something new dating back to a very old time.”
“I am proud that this work has continued for more than 10 years by the British Museum … that the embassy encourages this work, and that cooperation is excellent between Britain and Lebanon,” Guy added.
When asked about her country’s views on the Cabinet’s policy statement and whether the British government would cooperate with its Lebanese counterpart, Guy said it would cooperate, as the Cabinet received a vote of confidence in Parliament. But she reiterated the views of the European Union’s chief diplomat Catherine Ashton, who had expressed concern over the article in the ministerial statement on the STL and called on Lebanon to uphold its international obligations.
“We will certainly cooperate with the government because it is present and gained a vote of confidence in Parliament, and we welcome [the Cabinet’s] commitment to work on the necessary reforms … but the Europeans are concerned about the article [in the Cabinet statement] dealing with the Special Tribunal [for Lebanon],” Guy said.
In response to a question on her views on Lebanese politics as she prepares to leave her post, Guy said: “Politics in Lebanon needs diplomatic work for the next hundred years.”
Guy was speaking during a visit to Sidon, where she surveyed the excavation led by a delegation from the British Museum, in cooperation with the Directorate General of Antiquities, at the Frères’ archaeological site at the old city’s entrance.
Guy was accompanied by Sidon MP Bahia Hariri’s representative, Ali al-Sharif, Sidon Mayor Mohammad Saudi’s representative, Ibrahim Bsat, and members of the municipal council.
Following an explanation by the head of the British Museum delegation, Claude Doumit Serhal, on the excavation’s recent archaeological discoveries, Guy said: “I came here for the first time around four years ago, and each year I see the efforts of those engaged in excavation works reveal something new dating back to a very old time.”
“I am proud that this work has continued for more than 10 years by the British Museum … that the embassy encourages this work, and that cooperation is excellent between Britain and Lebanon,” Guy added.
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