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France favors amendment of resolution draft over Lebanon
8/8/2006 10:10

France favored Monday to postpone the presentation of the resolution draft to the United Nations Security Council over the Israeli-Lebanese conflicts to include "some amendments", especially the withdrawal of the Israeli force from Lebanon.

"We are saying to the Americans: 'Let's not submit this resolution until we have taken on several amendments by the Arab League, in any case, the Lebanese government'," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said at the French public television station France 3.

"That is the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and as well as being more precise about the Shebaa farms region. We think that we can go much further," he said.

Lebanon has called for the text to be amended to order an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory after ending hostilities.

The French minister also said that France had proposed to put the Shebaa farms under the UN trusteeship even before they return to Lebanon.

Douste-Blazy also said that the Lebanese government had just said for the first time since 2000 that it was ready to deploy the Lebanese army in South Lebanon.

Besides the repatriation of the displaced people, whose number amounted to one million in Lebanon, the French minister wanted to discuss on raising the maritime and air blockade imposed by Israel.

He also said that France was in these discussions at the balance point between the moderate Arabic countries on one side and Israel and the United States on the other side.

"We need a strong Lebanon ... We need the Lebanese sovereignty," he noted, calling to back Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, who gained Monday the support of all the Arabic countries to his plan presented on July 26 to settle the conflict between the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and Israel.

His plan foresaw the Lebanese government exercising full sovereignty over South Lebanon by deploying the Lebanese army, the UN Security Council making an engagement to put the contested Shebaa farms area under the UN jurisdiction, the reactivating of the 1949 armistice agreement with Israel after a ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners between Lebanon and Israel.

A delegation of the Arab League flew to New York to try to modify the French-U.S. resolution.

Shebaa farms is a small area located at the junction of Syria, Lebanon and Israel, occupied by Israel in 1967. Beirut considers it is a Lebanese territory.



Xinhua News