THE INTERNATIONAL LEBANESE COMMITTEE For UNSCR 1559 www.un1559.org

European MP to explore areas still occupied by Syria in Lebanon Sunday

Beirut, February 25, 2006. Mideast Newswire

At the invitation of the "International Lebanese Committee for the Implementation of UNSCR 1559" (INGO launched last fall), a leading member of the European Parliament has started a visit to Lebanon to monitor the remnant of the Syrian occupation, according to the Committee.

MP Paulo Casaca, from the Socialist Group and Chairman of the NATO delegation to the European Parliament has started a short visit to Lebanon this Week End. His first meeting was with Prime Minister Fouad Seniora in Beirut: M Casaca was accompanied by Lebanese MP Abdallah Hanna, Toni Nissi, coordinator of the Committee 1559 in Lebanon and members of the Committee. Prime Minister Seniora thanked MP Casaca for his interest in Lebanon's sovereignty. Casaca told Seniora the European Parliament is concerned about the implementation of the said resolution. He added that the international community is committed to the following:

1. The investigation in the Hariri assassination and the establishment of an international court.

2. Supporting the Cedars Revolution and its goals

3. Supporting the Lebanese Government in its attempts to implement the UNSCR 1559 and the goals of the Cedars Revolution.

4. Supporting the Lebanese Army

5. Supporting the Lebanese security forces under the auspices of the Lebanese Government

6. Insuring the protection of the Lebanese-Syrian borders and investigating the remnants of the Syrian military and security presence on Lebanese territories

7. Devising a strategy to disarm all remaining militias in Lebanon

MP Casaca met also with Socialist leader MP Walid Joumblat in Mukhtara. Joumblat reiterated the call for the resignation of Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and asked the international community to provide protection to Lebanon's civil society. After the meeting, the Casaca delegation visited the Hizbollah-dominated areas in south Lebanon and the Lebanese-Israeli borders. He met with Lebanese NGOs and municipalities leaders in the town of Jezzine.

On Sunday, MP Casaca and his delegation will be visiting the Lebanese-Syrian borders to explore some areas said to be still under Syrian occupation. He will then visit the Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir before he meets with political activists and the representatives of the Cedars Revolution as well as Lebanese MPs.  

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