25 August 2010

BEIRUT: Two British politicians from the country’s ruling Conservative Party met with Lebanese representatives Tuesday as part of a two-day visit aimed at bolstering international dialogue and understanding.

Following discussions, MP Andrew Rosindell, who sits on the UK’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and MP Daniel Kawczynski, who is the parliamentary chairman of the Conservative Arab Network, called on Lebanon to form a unified national strategy and to repel all attempts at external interference, leader of the March 14-allied Free Shiite Movement Sheikh Mohammad Hajj Hassan, who accompanied the representatives during their visit, told The Daily Star.

The visiting dignitaries also expressed support for the Lebanese Army and for the continuation of international arms sales to the military, while urging for a halt of all weapons transfers to armed groups not directly affiliated with the army, Hassan said.

The continuation of US military aid to Lebanon, worth some $100 million, was put in doubt recently after clashes broke out on August 3 along the Lebanese-Israeli border which led to the deaths of two Lebanese Army soldiers, a Lebanese journalist and an Israeli officer.

During their visit the two British MPs held joint talks with Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud, who briefed them on the local and regional political situation and its impact on the tourism sector.

Abboud is thought to have stressed the stability of the sector, which grew by 12 percent year-on-year in July despite an escalation of political tensions in the region, and explored plans to make the tourism season more sustainable outside of the summer months.

The pair also met with Labor Minister Boutros Harb and representatives from the March 14 secretariat to discuss the state of local and regional affairs.

“[All] the discussions centered around the current condition of the Lebanese state in general, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), the impending STL indictment and its consequences, the situation in south Lebanon and Israel’s occupation of the village of Ghajar and the Shebaa farms,” the leader of the Free Shiite Movement told The Daily Star.

The movement organized the two-day tour to allow the British politicians a chance to “closely examine the situation in Lebanon.”

The Free Shiite Movement is also planning a similar visit for a group of Belgian parliamentarians, which is expected to take place on Thursday.

The trip was coordinated in collaboration with IMAN, a non-partisan international organization that organizes frequent trips to the Middle East for European politicians and aims to strengthen international understanding by promoting cross-cultural dialogue.

As part of the visit, Kawczynski and Rosindell also met with Phalange party official Tripoli MP Samer Saade, Beirut MP Nadim Gemayel, former Zghorta-Tripoli MP Nayla Mouawwad and Chouf MP Dori Chamoun.

Separate meetings also took place with British Ambassador Francis Guy, Saudi Ambassador Ali Awad Osseiri and director general of the Justice Ministry Omar Natour.

Copyright The Daily Star 2010.