European envoy: Palestinian-Israeli negotiations important for Lebanon

Visiting European Union Special envoy to the Middle East Peace Process Marc Otte said on Monday that the peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are important for the stability of Lebanon.

Otte met with the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman at the presidential palace in Baabda near Beirut. A statement released by the President's office said that the two sides discussed "Lebanon' s relations with Arab countries and the National Dialogue session. "

Furthermore, the country's internal situation and "the need to provide the Lebanese Army with military aid to better defend the country and control its internal scene" were also discussed during the meeting.

Otte also met with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the government's palace in down town Beirut. He said after the meeting that his visit to Lebanon aims at listening "to our Lebanese friends and their concerns, not only about what is happening in Lebanon and in our bilateral relations, but also regarding regional issues."

He pointed out that the indirect peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are important "for Lebanon, for the security of its citizens, for the stability of the country and the region."

Otte added that he wanted to listen to Hariri about the Lebanese government's concern and about how to include the concerns of the Lebanese people and the Lebanese government in the general efforts of peace in the region.

Earlier, Israeli local news service Ynet quoted a statement by U.S. special envoy George Mitchell as saying that Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to begin U.S.-brokered indirect peace talks.

The Palestinian-Israeli negotiations have been stalled in December 2008 when Israel launched a wide-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Source: Xinhua