LEBANON: France urges contacts with Iran as part of efforts to resolve crisis in Lebanon

France said on Monday (July 31) it was important to maintain contacts with Iran as part of efforts to resolve the crisis in Lebanon but ruled out talks with Syria. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy described Iran as a significant, respected player in the Middle East which is playing a stabilising role. The United States blames Iran and Syria for destabilising the Middle East by backing Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon who have been battling Israeli forces for nearly three weeks. "It was clear that we could never accept a destabilisation of Lebanon, which could lead to a destabilisation of the region," Douste-Blazy said in Beirut. "In the region there is of course a country such as Iran -- a great country, a great people and a great civilisation which is respected and which plays a stabilising role in the region," he told a news conference. Douste-Blazy was speaking after meeting his Lebanese counterpart, Fwazi Salloukh. He was also due to meet Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hizbollah ally. The French foreign minister repeated his country's call for an immediate ceasefire, saying the military situation was at an "impasse" so a political solution was needed. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said a ceasefire to end the 20-day-old war between Israel and Hizbollah could be forged this week, but Israel rejected any immediate truce. After an Israeli air strike on Qana, which killed 54 civilians, Lebanon called off planned talks with Rice, telling her to secure an unconditional ceasefire first. "I also told his excellency how much Secretary Rice regretted not seeing him yesterday as hoped. I briefed him on her on-going efforts both to bring about the much needed ceasefire as urgently as possible and simultaneously to address the most critical humanitarian needs including things like fuel deliveries," said U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman, following a meeting with Fwazi Salloukh. Russia criticised the delay in calling for an immediate truce. A Hizbollah member of parliament said that no deal will be reached without first securing a ceasefire. "(Rice) did not suggest anything new. She only re-emphasised her previous conditions which were set from the beginning of this aggression. Lebanon, as a whole has said: 'there will not be any negotiations until there is a ceasefire and a return of refugees," said Hussein Haj Hassan. Diplomats at the United Nations will discuss steps to end the war this week, starting with a meeting on Monday of possible contributors to an international force for south Lebanon. A French plane delivering aid has arrived in Beirut, making it the first European plane to land at Beirut's airport since July 13 when Israeli warplanes bombed its runways and forced it to close. Douste-Blazy met with the crew members of the military jet at the airport as aid was off loaded onto trucks which will head to some of the country's worse hit areas. France has pledged 17.5 million euros in aid and is preparing 1 million euros of food aid. At least 549 people have been killed in Lebanon, although the health minister puts the toll at 750 including bodies still buried under rubble. Up to 600,000 people fleeing the bombardment, have been displaced. Fifty-one Israelis have been killed.

ITN Source | July 31, 2006

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