The Lebanese government rejected direct bilateral talks with Israel the Jewish state has called for to reach a peace deal between the two bordering countries, local As-Safir daily reported Thursday.
"Lebanon's position is clear to all, and there is no place for bilateral negotiations between Lebanon and Israel," Prime Minister Fouad Seniora's press office said in a statement late Wednesday.
The statement also said the Lebanese territories occupied by Israel are subjected to "UN security council resolutions that do not require any negotiations."
"Israel is obliged to withdraw from Lebanese territories in line with UN resolutions 425 and 1701," the statement added.
Lebanon has claimed that the Shebaa farms area in south Lebanon was occupied by Israel, while Israel said they are part of Syrian territory it conquered in 1967 along with the Golan Heights, and should be dealt with as part of negotiations with the Syrians.
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said last week that he is preparing documents that prove the farms are Lebanese and will present them to the UN secretary general.
Israel on Wednesday called for direct talks with Lebanon, saying it was ready to discuss "all issues of dispute."
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Beirut where she called for UN action on the occupied Shebaa farms.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article