SYRIA: British Foreign Secretary William Hague meets Syrian leaders in Damascus

Record ID: 279458

  • Title: SYRIA: British Foreign Secretary William Hague meets Syrian leaders in Damascus
  • Date: 28th January 2011
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JANUARY 27, 2011) (REUTERS) HAGUE ARRIVING WITH SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WALID AL-MOUALLEM TO THE NEWS CONFERENCE HALL PHOTOGRAPHERS JOURNALISTS MOUALLEM TALKING CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WALID AL-MOUALLEM, SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYING: "We believe that what happened in Lebanon was a process that follows the Lebanese constitution and we respect
  • Embargoed: 12th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACXUVCKND0QHTY6C6S1WDN26OU
  • Story Text: The Syrian government called on Lebanon's divided political leaders on Thursday (January 27) to join what it described as a unity government led by Prime Minister designate Najib Mikati.
    "We hope a national unity government will be formed and all Lebanese parties join," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem told reporters, in the first official reaction from Damascus to Mikati's appointment.
    Moualem said after meeting British Foreign Secretary William Hague in Damascus that Syria was ready to cooperate with the Mikati government and that other countries should not "prejudge" the cabinet under formation.
    Mikati, a friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said he will seek to form a cabinet of what he called technocrats if defeated rival Saad al-Hariri's supporters reject his call for them to join his government.
    Mikati, a billionaire who made his fortune in telecoms, was nominated with the support of Syrian- and Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah. He started talks on Thursday to form a government to succeed Hariri who was brought down by Hezbollah and its allies two weeks ago.
    Hague said the Lebanese government should be formed in accordance with the country's constitution.
    "The UK looks for a government formed in accordance with Lebanon's constitution that commands the broadest possible support of the people of Lebanon that upholds its international obligations including the special tribunal and an end to impunity for assassinations," he said.
    Violence has broken out in Lebanon this week, with protesters burning tyres and blocking roads across the country, after Hezbollah-backed Najib Mikati was named prime minister.
    Mikati's nomination is seen as a victory for Hezbollah, which has challenged the impartiality of a U.N.-backed tribunal set up in 2009 to try the killers of statesman Rafik al-Hariri and which is expected to accuse members of the Shi'ite group.
    Moualem regretted the loss of life in Egypt and Tunisia and added should not interfere in the unrest in those two Arab countries.
    "We are watching what is going on in the brotherly Tunisia and Egypt. We are sorry to see deaths among the Egyptian people and the Egyptian police. we hope that wisdom takes place and we consider what is happening as internal affairs that we do not interfere in," he said.
    Hague arrived in Syria on Wednesday (January 26) for a long-planned two-day trip, as unrest engulfed parts of the Middle East, including neighbouring Lebanon.
    During the trip, he held talks with President Bashar al-Assad about the political situation in Lebanon, the Middle East peace process and Iran's nuclear programme.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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