Brussels, 21/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - During Monday's Council (EUROPE 9155), EU foreign ministers held an exchange of views with the prime minister of Lebanon, Fouad Siniora. In its conclusions, the Council reaffirmed its support for Lebanon's unity, stability and independence and reminded neighbouring countries - Syria in particular - that they are under an obligation to respect the sovereignty of Lebanon. The EU condemns the violence perpetrated against citizens, journalists and politicians in Lebanon and expresses grave concern at the continuing acts of intimidation and the attacks against the right to freedom of expression, the conclusions state. Also on Monday, ministers restated the unreserved support of the EU to the UN International Investigation Commission (UNIIC) into the assassination of Rafic Hariri and welcomed the interim report by Serge Brammertz of Belgium, who heads the commission. The EU urges all parties to cooperate unconditionally with the UNIIC and hopes that light will be shed on this and other assassinations. Finally, the Council calls on the Lebanon government to set up and launch the economic and political reforms programme initiated during the Core Group meeting held in New York in September 2005. “The EU stands ready to support credible and effective plans for political and economic reform”, the Council conclusions stipulate, expressing “satisfaction that the negotiations of the EU Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan will start soon”.
Prime Minister Siniora also met Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP, and European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The visit took place a few days before the entry into force of the association agreement (1 April) and the first EU/Lebanon Association Council (11 April), providing an opportunity for various European interlocutors to stress the need for a concrete reform policy despite the fact that the difficult inter-Lebanese dialogue is an obstacle and despite the question of legitimacy of the current president of the republic. According to the Lebanese press, French Foreign Minister Douste Blazy was the clearest in expressing the European message. “He was highly explicit that, without economic reforms, there cannot be international aid for Lebanon”, it was reported in L'Orient-le-Jour, evoking a political road that Lebanon should follow and that will “allow economic reform”. Prime Minister Siniora mainly retained from his talks the fact that there was a clear willingness to help Lebanon and to consolidate “positive results that few parties predicted”. Talks with the prime minister also allowed him to bring up the question of the region's political situation.