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| British Foreign Secretary
Miliband hopes for stability in Lebanon BEIRUT - Visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband started official talks with Lebanese leaders Wednesday, saying he hoped that stability would prevail in Lebanon until the upcoming parliamentary election due in May 2009. "The entire world is looking at the upcoming parliamentary elections where politics, not violence, should determine Lebanon's future relations," Miliband said after meeting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. Miliband said that his government was satisfied by the Lebanese government's approach to resolving the problems facing the country. He added that he hoped the situation would remain stable until after the 2009 elections. Miliband reiterated that Britain was "very committed" to the "vision of a peaceful Middle East." "Now is the time to push for a comprehensive resolution," he said. The foreign secretary also announced that Lebanon's president would visit Britain in the spring. Miliband, who arrived from Damascus late Tuesday, held
talks over the weekend in Israel and the West Bank with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Speaking afterwards at a joint news conference, Mr Miliband said Syria could play a "constructive role" in bringing stability to the Middle East. Syrian foreign minister Walid al-Mua'allim said that Iran also had an important contribution to make. "We believe that good ties with Iran will help the bring security and stability to the region," he said. Mr Miliband told reporters gathered at Beirut's international airport that the UK was "very committed" to the "vision of a peaceful Middle East". "Now is the time to push for a comprehensive resolution," he said. Earlier in his tour, Mr Miliband travelled to Israel and the West Bank, holding meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. -With Agencies |
