USA: President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair pressure for a Lebanese cease-fire, speed up diplomacy for U.N. resolution aimed at halting the violence and establishing a multinational force

U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, pressured for a Lebanon cease-fire, sped up diplomacy on Friday (July 28) for a U.N. resolution aimed at halting the violence and establishing a multinational force. Bush announced the steps that he and Blair agreed on during their talks. "Tomorrow Secretary (of State Condoleezza) Rice will return to the region. She will work with the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to seize this opportunity to achieve lasting peace and stability for both of their countries. Next week, the U.N. Security Council will meet as well. Our goal is a Chapter Seven resolution, setting out a clear framework for cessation of hostilities on a urgent basis and mandating the multi-national force. Also at the United Nations, senior officials from many countries will meet to discuss the design and deployment of the multi-national force." Blair said it was important not only to get a cessation of violence but to use the opportunity to stabilise the Middle East in the longer term. "The purpose of what we are doing, therefore, is to bring about, yes, the cessation of hostilities, which we want to see as quickly and as urgently as possible. But also to put in place a framework that allows us to stabilise the situation for the medium and longer term. In addition to that, we both of us believe it is important that we take the opportunity to ensure that the Middle East Peace Process, which has been in such difficulty over the past few months, is given fresh impetus towards the two-state solution that we and the international community want to see. In the end, that is of fundamental importance, also, to the stability and peace of the region." Both leaders have been resisting international calls for an immediate cease-fire, saying a settlement must address Hizbollah's influence in Lebanon and its attacks on Israel. Bush and Blair indirectly urged Syria to use its influence on Hizbollah to stop Hizbollah's attacks on Israel. "My message to Syria is: become a active participant in the neighbourhood for peace." "They can either come in and participate as proper and responsible members of the international community or they will face the risk of increasing confrontation." Bush and Blair spoke after their third meeting in two months and first since their private conversation about the Middle East was aired when a microphone was left on at a Group of Eight summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. In that conversation, Bush complained that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan should get Syria to persuade Hizbollah to stop its attacks on Israel, and Blair said it would help to get an international force in Lebanon, a subject he came to Washington to push. Blair was already in hot water with many Britons for backing Bush on Iraq and is facing similar criticism for not taking a more independent stance on Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which some European leaders say has been disproportionate retaliation for Hizbollah rocket attacks and abduction of Israeli soldiers.

ITN Source | July 29, 2006

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