Mideast situation/Lebanon- LAS Secretary General comments on Syrian President speech on withdrawal from Lebanon – LAS Press release/Non-UN document

Statements by Secretary General (5-3-2005)

 
Secretary General Amre Moussa of the Arab League of States has stressed the positive orientation in the speech made by President Bashar Al Asad of Syria Saturday 5th eve before the Syrian parliament.

'I believe the speech launches a positive process to implement the Al-Taif deal and in the meantime maintain the general framework of the Syrian-Lebanese relations without any drawbacks concerning the implementation of the Al-Taif deal or the provisions of resolution 1559', Moussa said.

Pointing out what has been mentioned by President Bashar in his speech, Moussa also said 'This means that President Bashar is about to effect a factual withdrawal in accordance with the deal and the resolution within the framework of the accord and mechanism included in the Al-Taif deal. It is precisely what President Bashar has told me in person when I met with him earlier last week in Damascus'.

 
'It is a special relation based on historic, geographic and other factors much stronger than to be based upon military relations or existence', Moussa said Commenting on President Bashar?s statements concerning the nature of the Syrian-Lebanese relations.