Annan says Syria agrees to present clear pullout timetable
23/3/2005 11:20
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said in Algiers yesterday he has
secured a Syrian pledge to withdraw from neighboring Lebanon under a clear
timetable.
On the sidelines of the 17th Arab summit, Annan told reporters
that as soon as he was presented a timetable, he would urge Syria to fully
implement a UN resolution on its withdrawal.
"I had a very constructive
discussion with President Assad and he reconfirmed his commitment to resolution
1559," Annan said after talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is also
here for the summit.
Thirteen Arab heads of state and senior officials from
22 AL member states attended the first of the two-day summit at the Nations
Palace in the Algerian capital's western suburb .
The UN chief is scheduled
to hold talks with Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud on Wednesday.
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud was among those who bowed out of the summit
citing uncertain domestic situations.
The resolution, proposed by the United
States and France, was approved by the UN security council in September 2004,
calling for a full withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon.
Syria has been
under mounting international pressure to pull out its 14,000 troops and
intelligence forces from Lebanon, especially after former Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a massive bombing attack on Feb.
14.
Syria deployed its forces in 1976 to intervene in Lebanon's 1975-1990
civil war and has kept its military presence there ever since.
Xinhua
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