Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said on Thursday that he opposed
the suggestion, made by UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, of integrating
Hezbollah forces into the Lebanese army.
Lahoud told reporters that the proposal was actually not a new
one, and its aim was to cease the function of Lebanon's "resistance
forces" and null the country's ability to fight against Israeli
occupation.
Roed-Larsen, who is in charge of implementing UN Security
Council resolution 1559, had suggested merging Hezbollah into the
Lebanese army and deploying them on the southern borders of the
country.
On the Lebanon-Syria ties, Lahoud reiterated that Lebanon would
like to build up a good relationship with the neighboring country
on the basis of respecting sovereignty and independence. He called
for a rational solution to various problems between the two
countries.
Lahoud also repeated his demand for a clear and thorough
investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prim
Minister Rafik Hariri.
He said that the emphasis at the current stage should be laid on
further investigation, and that all those involved in the murder
should be on trial and given the harshest punishment.
(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2006)
