ARGENTINA: Syrian Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal renews calls for Lebanon to form a national unity government; says foreign "interference" is damaging

Record ID: 276228

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Syrian Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal renews calls for Lebanon to form a national unity government; says foreign "interference" is damaging
  • Date: 28th January 2007
  • Summary: (W5) BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JANUARY 26, 2007) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE ARABIC COMMUNITY'S CEDARS FOUNDATION IN ARGENTINA VARIOUS OF SYRIAN INFORMATION MINISTER MOHSEN BILAL ARRIVING TO CEDAR FOUNDATION VARIOUS OF BILAL AND DELEGATES STANDING IN WELCOMING CEREMONY
  • Embargoed: 12th February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACWPPYZ7QUJOXAHO5P8JMMCB3W
  • Story Text: Syrian Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal renewed calls for Lebanon to form a national unity government and said foreign "interference" was damaging the government of embattled Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. As for recent talk of an unofficial Israel-Syria peace plan drafted last year with Swiss mediation, Bilal said Syria was only interested in open negotiations. Syria on Friday (January 26) renewed its call for Lebanon to form a national unity government and said foreign "interference" was damaging the government of embattled Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
    On his last stop of a South American tour, Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal urged the U.S.-backed government of Siniora to find ways to work with the Hezbollah-led opposition.
    "Syria always - and I reiterate - Syria looks at Lebanon will full unity of all Lebanese factions - political and spiritual - everything all to be united in a national unity government. This is our point of view for our brothers in Lebanon," Bilal said in a interview with Reuters.
    On Wednesday (January 25), U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Washington was concerned that "irresponsible" forces were working to undermine Siniora's government.
    When asked about the U.S. role in Lebanon, Bilal responded:
    "You know, Syria is very conscious about the danger of the interference of foreigners in the internal affairs of the country, particularly if this country is a small country. Everyone in the world knows who interferes in Lebanese affairs, who is working daily against Lebanese unity, and against Lebanese dialogue and against Lebanese consensus. So we insist and we invite every party involved in Lebanese affairs to do as Syria is doing for Lebanese unity, salvation and consensus."
    Bilal declined to name who he thought was carrying out this "interference", but said the political situation in Lebanon was being hurt by "a lot of ambassadors who are not working in favour of the Lebanese people".
    As for recent talk of an unofficial Israel-Syria peace plan drafted last year with Swiss mediation, Bilal said Syria was only interested in open negotiations.
    "No. We do not need any secret negotiations. We are for clear negotiations, open negotiations - Madrid-style - to conclude the peace process getting back our Golan Heights occupied by the Israelis since June 1967. And Syria would like to take back our Golan Heights and Israel should withdraw until the borders of the fourth of June 1967."
    According to an Israeli newspaper and European diplomats, two Swiss diplomats who helped in the secret mediation visited Damascus this week, but Syria has denied the negotiations took place and state media did not report the visit.
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