Comments made to the press by the Searetary-General and Prime Minister Rafic Hariri of Lebanon, following their meeting at the Secretary-General's residence (unofficial transcript)

SG: Mr. Prime Minister, ladies and gentlemen: I have had very constructive and useful discussions with the Prime Minister for over an hour, where we discussed the situation in the Middle East. We discussed the need for political and economic stability in the region. I raised with him my concerns about the Blue Line and the need for all parties to respect the Blue Line, as stipulated in the Security Council resolution. And he knows that, not only have I said that to him, but I have also made the same request and asked the Israelis also to respect it. Because that is the only way that peace can be maintained on that border. And once peace and political stability is assured, we will then be able to focus on the essential task of economic and social development, which I know is very much on the Prime Minister's mind and on the minds of the Lebanese.

Prime Minister Rafic Hariri: As His Excellency just explained, we went over all the situation in the Middle East, especially in southern Lebanon, and we have talked about the Blue Line, and I explained to His Excellency that Lebanon is respecting the Blue Line. It is Israel that is violating the Blue Line every day. Today they flew over the Lebanese sky twice, at least, and maybe more. Since they have withdrawn and the Blue Line has been drawn by the United Nations, Israeli aircraft are almost every day violating Lebanese sovereignty. And beside that we have Shebaa Farm which is Lebanese territory still occupied by the Israelis until today. This is the situation.

We would like to see the stability in the region, but we would like to see first our territory is liberated because, you know, we have responsibility to our people, to our generation, and we believe that all these problems can be solved only through the respecting of the United Nations Resolutions 242, 338 and 425. In the absence of a peace agreement among all the parties, I don't see that anybody can assure the stability or the security in the region. This is unfortunate but this is the situation. And this, history told us, and the last 20 years told us very clearly, that the only way to assure the stability and the security it has to be for everybody in the region not only for one without counting the others.

Q: What about the conflict between the U.N. and Lebanon concerning the resolution 425 and 242?

Hariri: There is no conflict between the United Nations and Lebanon. There is a way how to look at it. The United Nations has said that 425 has been implemented. We say that it has been implemented partially, maybe 90 percent, 95 percent, but surely not 100, percent because Shebaa Farm is in Lebanese territory. In any case, if it is under 425 or 242, there is one reality everybody is agreed upon, at least -- His Excellency as well -- that Shebaa Farm is not on Israeli territory and either it is under 425 or 242, but this will not make it in any case an Israeli territory. And if it is Syrian or Lebanese, between us and the Syrians there is no differences whatsoever. And the Syrians are saying it is Lebanese. We are saying it is Lebanese. So it is Lebanese.

Q: What concrete steps is the Lebanese government willing to take to ensure that the U.N. presence in the south will remain, especially in light of the new report coming out on Monday?

Hariri: No. the U.N. presence will be there, but they don't want to spend so much money, as His Excellency explained to me, and it is a matter of budget. It is not a matter of anything else. And if they want to reduce the number of people, it means that the Lebanese government is doing what it has to do. So it is a sign of admiration for the Lebanese government to reduce the number of people there.

SG: Let me say that we are not withdrawing. We are restructuring and scaling down, but we will be there. There is no question of the U.N. withdrawing their troops at this stage. It is a question of restructuring and giving the force the mobility to do the work that it has to do. We will be much more mobile. The numbers may be smaller but we will be there and actively engaged.

Q: How about the Syrian presence in Shebaa Frams which you say is Lebanese?

Hariri: First of all we did not discuss this with His Excellency, this subject was not raised at all. I don't think, there is no reason to be raised with His Excellency. I also respect him very much and we respect any opinion he bring to our discussion, but this subject is between the Lebanese government and the Syrian government.

Q: How about moving the Lebanese troops down into the south as the Secretary-General has asked in his reports, to assert control over southern Lebanon?

Hariri: In fact yes, he did. He read this section, and I give him the answer, and it is in his hand. (laughter)*****