Syria to enforce arms embargo against Hezbollah: Annan

Visiting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Friday in Damascus that Syria will enhance arms embargo against Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah guerrillas to implement a UN resolution on Lebanon.

The UN chief told reporters that Syrian President Bashar al- Assad gave his pledge on the arms embargo issue during a meeting between them on UN Resolution 1701 and its implementation earlier in the day.

"While stating Syrian objections to the presence of foreign forces along the Syrian-Lebanese border, the president committed to me that Syria will take all necessary measures to implement in full paragraph 15 of the resolution" which deals with the arms embargo, said Annan.

He added that Assad also pledged to increase the number of guards on the border with Lebanon and set up "a liaison mechanism with the Lebanese army, the police and the international force".

Syria would also establish, "when possible", joint border patrols and control points with Lebanese authorities, Annan said.

Syria, angered by an Israeli demand of deploying the UN peacekeeping forces along the Lebanese-Syrian borderline, threatened to close the border if they were deployed.

Describing the meeting as "long and constructive", Annan said Assad had assured him that his country supports the UN Resolution 1701 and will cooperate in its implementation.

On the abducted Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, Annan said he had asked Syria to use its influence in Lebanon to help secure their release.

"The president supported the call for their (Israeli and Lebanese prisoners) release, but he also raised the question of the Syrian prisoners and called for their release," Annan said.

"Syria is an important regional player, the international community is looking to Syria to play a constructive role in this crucial period," the UN chief said.

Meanwhile, Annan said he also discussed with Assad the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon as well as the issue to demarcate the border between the two neighbors.

Assad had accepted this in principle, but he underscored that it was a sovereign issue to be worked out with the Lebanese authorities, Annan said.

Syria and Lebanon, maintaining no diplomatic ties, have witnessed tense relations since the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri in February 2005.

Syria was forced to withdraw troops from Lebanon in April 2005 after a 29-year presence there as it was blamed for the murder, an allegation Damascus denied.

Annan, who arrived here Thursday afternoon to seek Syria's help to bolster the UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in Lebanon, held talks with Assad for about 45 minutes in the morning.

Resolution 1701 calls for Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon, a lift of the Israeli air and sea blockade in Lebanon and authorizes an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15, 000 troops to help Lebanese troops take control of southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws.

Although fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ended on Aug. 14 under the UN resolution, Israel has vowed to keep its blockades until a UN peacekeeping force takes control of south Lebanon to guarantee the safety of the Jewish state.

Source: Xinhua