LEBANON/SYRIA: Iranian FM meets Lebanese and French counterparts after earlier declaring support for Lebanon against Israeli attacks during a short visit to Syria

Record ID: 278829

  • Title: LEBANON/SYRIA: Iranian FM meets Lebanese and French counterparts after earlier declaring support for Lebanon against Israeli attacks during a short visit to Syria
  • Date: 1st August 2006
  • Summary: (BN14) BEIRUT, LEBANON (JULY 31, 2006) (REUTERS) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI AT MEETING (2 SHOTS) MOTTAKI AND LEBANESE FOREIGN MINISTER FAWZI SALLOUKH SHAKING HANDS *** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY *** MEETING (4 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAB5ERD9S9MDJF57ZEA00PWVG8T
  • Story Text: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, whose country is a main backer of Hizbollah, said on Monday (July 31) that his country would support any decision Lebanon takes, following almost three weeks of fighting between between Israel and Hizbollah in Lebanon
    "The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasises the importance to put an end to the Zionist aggressions against Lebanon and the Lebanese people. Iran supports any project or suggestion on this subject on which there is Lebanese consensus," he told reporters following a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh.
    Mottaki later met French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy for talks on the crisis in Lebanon.
    Douste-Blazy said earlier on Monday it was important to maintain contacts with Tehran as part of efforts to resolve the crisis in Lebanon, where Hizbollah and Israel have been at war for nearly three weeks.
    He described Iran as a significant, respected player in the Middle East which is playing a stabilising role.
    The United States accuses Iran and Syria of destabilising the Middle East by backing Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.
    Mottaki and Douste-Blazy met at the Iranian embassy in Beirut.
    On his way to Lebanon, Mottaki made a short visit to Syria where he told reporters of his country's support for Lebanon against Israeli attacks and condemned an Israeli air strike on a building in the southern Lebanon village of Qana on Sunday (July 30) that killed at least 54 civilians, raising a storm of protest around the world.
    Mottaki said, "My visit to Lebanon comes to declare the Iranian people and the Iranian government support for Lebanese people and the Lebanese government. Also it comes to express our sadness about the terrible crime that Israeli occupation has done in Qana. This visit is an opportunity to visit Lebanon and recognize nearly the developments in this country."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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