- Title: SYRIA/LEBANON: Sarkozy visits Syria, Lebanon on Mideast peace tour
- Date: 7th January 2009
- Summary: BAABDA, LEBANON (JANUARY 6, 2009) (TELE-LIBAN TV) VARIOUS OF LEBANESE GUARD OF HONOUR GREETING ARRIVAL OF SARKOZY AT BAABDA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE SARKOZY SHAKING HANDS WITH LEBANESE PRESIDENT MICHEL SULEIMAN
- Embargoed: 22nd January 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAB4UNIEIYFI5O6VHU4QT8AN6CQ
- Story Text: French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives in Lebanon after asking Syria to help push for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Lebanon on Tuesday (January 6) from Damascus, where he asked for Syrian help with ending Israel's assault in the Gaza strip.
Along with Iran, Syria is a main backer of Hamas and hosts members of the group's exiled leadership, including Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.
On a peace-brokering tour of the Middle East, Sarkozy emphasised the need to improve the humanitarian conditions for Palestinians in Gaza and also called for a ceasefire.
"President Bashar al-Assad can play an essential role and Syria has to help us in convince Hamas to chose peace, reason and the reconciliation of Palestine," Sarkozy told journalists at a joint press briefing in the Syrian capital, where he also met with Assad.
Without naming Hamas specifically, Sarkozy said he had no doubts that Syria would help convince Hamas agree to a deal.
Assad said any truce would require Israel to stop what he described as its war crimes in Hamas-run Gaza and to lift its blockade of the besieged territory.
"For us, what is happening is a war crime and Amnesty International published a report saying that Israel oversteps the Geneva Convention. Unfortunately, Israelis have not learnt from the lessons of Lebanon. They wanted to end the resistance but they only spread it more in society," Syria's he said.
Diplomats in the Syrian capital said France wanted Syria to exerts its influence with Hamas to make sure that any ceasefire sticks, but Syria has been careful not to be seen as acting as a guardian of Israel's security.
Sarkozy's Middle East tour has included talks with Israeli officials in Jerusalem on Monday (January 5) and he will also visit Egypt before returning to Paris.
Egypt has been critical of Hamas, helping Israel to secure its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Israel launched its offensive after Hamas called off a six-month truce last month and stepped up rocket attacks in response to Israeli raids and a blockade of the Gaza Strip.
More than 588 Palestinians have been killed and some 2,700 wounded since the Israeli assault began on December 27. Four Israelis had also been killed and 60 injured by rocket attacks launched from Gaza into southern Israel. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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