Press encounter with Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud (unofficial transcript)

FM (translated from Arabic): I held with the UN Secretary-General who is visiting Lebanon today and some of tomorrow useful, deep and fruitful talks in which we discussed all the issues that are of interest to the Middle East region beginning with the peace process passing also through the issues which affect Lebanon directly including landmines, the Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons and the future of the peace process and the role that we expect from the United Nations in helping bring about a permanent and comprehensive peace without there being a deviation from the peace process and from its basis which we agreed on. And you know that Lebanon is committed to this process, and wishes to safeguard it, and the United Nations and the Secretary-General is personally attentive to it. I give the floor to the Secretary-General. We once again welcome him and we wish him a good trip and a role that is related to our confidence in the United Nations and in its credibility.

SG: Thank you very much. We have very little time and you've heard from the minister what we discussed. And we will take one or two questions.

Q: Did you notice, Mr. Annan, did you notice any will from the Lebanese authorities to restart the negotiations concerning the peace process?

SG: Yes, I think everyone I've spoken to believes that we should make every effort to bring a just and comprehensive peace in the region. Of course, they are also all preoccupied with what is happening in the Palestinian territories and between Palestinians and Israelis and believe that the international community should take urgent action to end the tragedy. But we should see the issue in a broader context, not just as resolving the Palestinian issue but try and bring about a comprehensive peace to calm the region once and for all.

Q: Mr. Annan, you hadn't mentioned a clear position of Shabaa Farms. Once you mentioned that it is Syrian, and once you said it is something for Syria and Lebanon to determine. So we need a clear position please.

SG: I think I've been very, very clear. I know that the Lebanese authorities believe that Shabaa Farms is Lebanese. But according to our records, and we made it clear in the report that the Security Council issued on the basis of which it had approved the Blue Line that it is Syrian and eventually when there's a settlement, I have no doubt that it will revert to Lebanon given the fact that Syria also has indicated that it is Lebanese. And I have appealed for patience and restraint because, in the long run, Israel is not going to keep it and if there is an agreement it will revert. What is important is that we avoid incidents on the Blue Line and in the Shabaa Farms.

Spokesman: Last question, please.

Q: Sir, how true are the reports that say that you have discussed with the Syrian and the Lebanese officials an initiative concerning for both of them to sit around a table with the United Nations under your auspices to discuss and to determine the borders of the Shabaa Farms and they have declined this?

SG: There was no such discussion.

Q: It isn't true?

SG: I've not had such a discussion.*****