Global Arab Network | Hariri visits London - UK a firm friend of Lebanon

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Hariri visits London - UK a firm friend of Lebanon

Monday, 01 November 2010 19:25

Lebanese_Prime_Minister_Saad_Hariri_British_Foreign_Secretary_William_Hague

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri met British Foreign Secretary William Hague at the Houses of Parliament, reports Global Arab Network.

During his two-day visit to London, Hariri is meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron and other senior ministers as well as the Duke of York, the British Queen Elizabeths second son, in an effort to encourage UK investments in Lebanon.

Hariri told the Times newspaper today that he will also ask Britain for help in reviving the moribund Middle East peace process, peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Before the meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister, Global Arab Network has received the British Foreign Secretary statement saying:

"It is a great pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister to the Houses of Parliament, which for centuries have been a centre of democratic debate in this country. So it's a pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister of a country which has its own vigorous democratic debate and a democracy we very strongly support.

The UK is a firm friend of Lebanon, of its independence and of the right of its people to govern their own affairs. We strongly support what its leaders have done, what its Prime Minister has done, to advance its peace and prosperity in recent times".

Speaking about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was set up in 2007 to investigate the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the Foreign Secretary said that:

"We also believe that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon should be able to complete its work. That is an important process and we have supported Prime Minister Hariri in resisting attempts to derail that process.

I am looking forward to our discussions and I know we will also be able to discuss other important international issues. I will be visiting the region later this week, so it will be important for us to discuss the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians, and the prospect for peace between Israel and Israel's other neighbours as well."

Prime Minister Hariri noted that it was his first visit to the UK as Prime Minister and thanked the Foreign Secretary for his "support for Lebanon, its sovereignty and its independence". He also noted the importance of a comprehensive peace in the region.

Last week, British Minister for the Middle East at the Foreign Office, Alistair Burt, commented on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon In advance of next week's visit to the UK by Prime Minister Hariri of Lebanon, by saying : "I am extremely concerned by the developments this week in Lebanon, where individuals and groups continue to seek to disrupt the investigations of the Special Tribunal. The UK is a firm believer in international justice. The Special Tribunal must be able to conclude its work freely and independently. We look forward to raising these issues next week when Prime Minister Hariri visits London".

Global Arab Network

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