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Remarks at Lebanon Donors' Conference Closing Press Conference

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Paris, France
January 26, 2007

French President Jacques Chirac, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faysal, and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (Via interpreter) Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I would like to thank each of you wholeheartedly for being here and for having come to participate in this meeting on Lebanon and to inform your various media of what has happened today.

Perhaps I would like to start off with a summary of what has occurred today. Perhaps let me start with the context and the goals of this meeting. The friends of Lebanon met together at a very high level in order to signal their attachment to a united and sovereign Lebanon, in order also to support and endorse its government which is the result of democratic elections and in order to lend their contribution and their support to the economic and social modernization program that this selfsame government has presented.

I think we're all of us familiar with the political situation prevailing in Lebanon, hammered by the ghastly events of last summer and more recently by a series of political assassinations that call upon us to not only firmly condemn but sanction and punish those who perpetrated these crimes.

At the end of the summer, the Stockholm conference enabled us to respond to the immediate and urgent needs of the people of Lebanon, but what needs to be done still is to the scale of a huge destruction wrecked in Lebanon. And an immense effort of solidarity and response on the part of the international community was necessary here, which is why France, in agreement with the Lebanese authorities and with the decisive support and determined support of Saudi Arabia, took the initiative of convening this conference so that this sense and show of solidarity actually trickle down and lead to concrete results.

Now, you'll remember that in November 2002 we had the Paris II Conference, which was the inspiration of Rafiq Hariri, a brilliant inspiration. And at the time, the idea was to bring together and federate the friends of Lebanon to support the economic and social reform program that the Lebanese Government had put together at that time. Now, that program -- very complete, exhaustive, courageous and bold -- is aimed to be implemented within a five-year timeframe, way beyond the term of office of the existing parliament. And the idea is to usher in social justice and economic development. It rests upon a determination on the part of the Lebanese people to modernize their country, but its implementation presupposes the active support and cooperation of all the parties involved in Lebanon whatever their views, and of course rests upon to a very large extent the support of the international community.

Now, what has been the result of all of this? Well, as you have noted, France's appeal was responded to. The level and diversity of delegations come from all four corners of the world, not to mention the international and regional institutions, first among whom the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon, I think is an eloquent testimonial to the level of support for Lebanon as well as the high level of solidarity that has been expressed to the Lebanese.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the laudable efforts made by the Lebanese themselves and the very positive position adopted by the international financial organizations and the conclusion of a post-conflict or the agreement on a post-conflict emergency program with the IMF have made it possible for aid levels to be set in a very significant level.

What we have done, because this was essential, is that this modernization and reform program and all that that entails redound to the benefit of all Lebanese whilst respecting the different beliefs, creeds and leanings of Lebanese -- members of Lebanese society.

Now, we have been able to raise $7, 600,000,000 in terms of aid linked to sectoral social projects as well as grants and loans, and the secretary to the conference is now working on the actual details of this amount and this information will be made available to you shortly.

The Arab states, and in particular those of the peninsula and the Gulf states, have made a particular effort. Another donor, the United States, has put a very large sum of money on the table which will enable very shortly the social and economic development program to be launched and implemented in the short and medium term. So I feel that the results that we have come up with are very significant both in political and financial terms.

The sovereignty of Lebanon presupposes financial consolidation, reconstruction and modernization. All the parties involved, all those who make up the fabric of Lebanese society, must be included in this effort. And beyond Lebanon, all the protagonists, the important protagonists in the region, must also work and pull in the same direction. This is the responsibility not only of the Lebanese but of the region as a whole. Resolution 1701, which put an end to hostilities, affords us the appropriate framework within which to settle these problems, implement the resolution to the letter and ensure a return to stability in Lebanon, which ultimately is the key to stability in the region as a whole.

So these are the main comments I wish to make at this juncture. I will now give the floor to Mr. Siniora, then to the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon, then to Dr. Rice, to Mr. Barroso, and then lastly to His Royal Highness Prince Saud al-Faysal.

Mr. Siniora.

PRIME MINISTER SINIORA: Thank you very much. Thank you for a successful conference which would not have been possible to hold and to be successful had it not been basically for your hard work and your team that really made it because of this dedication and your appreciation for a united Lebanon and for the real, real meaning what Lebanon stands for.

I would like to really say in here that this conference is a show of support and an expression of faith in Lebanon and the Lebanese people, an expression of faith that is our vision of a prosperous, stable and democratic Lebanon that's shared by Lebanon's friends in the region as well as around the world.

I've heard in the conference lots of support for our economic reform program, which is something that was envisioned by the Lebanese not just over two months but over quite a long period time and they had lots of discussions. But the situation in Lebanon never really helped in implementing such a program.

Anyhow, this is the heart of today's exercise, this -- our reform program. No level of support will be able to achieve our goals without reform policies that will enable our economy to reach its great potential and to fully benefit from the international assistance.

We view what happened today as a partnership between our friends and because of the common values that we share with our brothers and as well with our friends around the world. We view this as a partnership because of the international community's support for Lebanon medium-term economic reform program. This program, it's not a one-shot event and this conference is not a one-shot event to support a particular government, avoid a particular financial crisis. No, this conference is for the support of all the Lebanese and not for a group in Lebanon, not for a specific government. It is for all Lebanon and for all the Lebanese.

We have already heard lots of ideas and definitely this was expressed in the form of contribution from different donor countries and institutions who have already indicated in different forms their financial participation over different time periods. Some were able to indicate their assistance over the whole five-year program. Many indicated the level of support for the immediate period with the support for later years to be indicated in due course and in light of their institutional processes.

I am going back really pleased with the level of financial support that has been announced today. Mind you, as President Chirac has said, we have already requested from the IMF an EPCA, Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance from the IMF, and we have already enlisted a great deal of support from all the financial institutions and we are going to ask all the Arab financial institutions -- i.e, I'm speaking about the Arab military fund, I'm speaking about the Arab fund, the Kuwaiti fund, the Saudi fund as well as the Abu Dhabi fund -- to form some sort of a consultative group to really help Lebanon in addition to all the help that you are getting from other international organizations, the financial organizations, in order to work together in a very transparent way how to really manage these funds in the best manner possible as well as in the -- and to really go with us in the implementation of our program.

As I said, I'm going back very pleased of the results, and thanks for everybody who really participated today in this successful program. Thanks for the work that was done by President Chirac and his team, and thanks as well for my team in Lebanon, who really worked hard and made this program to come true.

Before I conclude, I want to speak a few words in Arabic as well. (Via interpreter) I wish now to speak to my brothers and sisters in Lebanon. For those, all those, who took to the streets today to express their opinion in some way or another, and I would appeal to all Lebanese to stay away from any hot spot and renounce the temptation to fan the flames of tension and conflict. Anything of that nature that might occur in Lebanon is simply playing into the hands of our enemy.

I am deeply affected by the loss of life today in Lebanon. I wanted to say that we stand with you, the families of the victims, likewise for the whole of the Lebanese people and all of us who care about Lebanon. We are here to fight for Lebanon, in the interest of Lebanon, and we have to as Lebanese set the example. No one can help a country if that country and the people of that country is not able to help itself.

We therefore have ourselves to set the best example in the eyes of the world to show that the Lebanese are determined to build a nation and do not wish the country to be simply a zone for conflict and the winds of conflict blowing from every which direction.

We have worked together. We have worked hard to build up this country, to ensure that the state and the authority of the country be the only one that take the decisions in respect to the nation, that the state be a tolerant one, a state which works in the interest of all its children. And we must do this in a determined and loving fashion.

So I would appeal to your wisdom, I would appeal to your sense of reason, and I am sure that the Lebanese will understand this message and will know where the interests of Lebanon lie. Thank you.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (Via interpreter) Thank you, Prime Minister, and I now give the floor to the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-Moon.

SECRETARY GENERAL BAN: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen. I am very happy with the results of today's conference and I would like to make the most of this opportunity to express, on behalf of the United Nations, gratitude to His Excellency, President Jacques Chirac, and his government for having organized this extremely important conference concerning the future of Lebanon.

(Inaudible) pledges made by a large number of Lebanon's partners in this international community are an essential element enabling the country's development and reconstruction. But by itself, this will not be enough. For economic reconstruction to be effective and give it a real chance to take place, it will need the bedrock of political stability, national reconciliation and sustained dialogue between all the parties in Lebanon.

And finally, I'd like to express my deep appreciation, admiration and respect to Prime Minister Siniora for his leadership in going through very difficult and challenging times to restore stability, democratic path, and at this time again in my capacity as Secretary General of the United Nations, appeal sincerely and urge the people of Lebanon and government to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from violence and engage in continuous and sincere dialogue among the people, among the groups for the future and for independent and democratic Lebanon.

I, as the Secretary General of the United Nations and the United Nations as an organization, have been and will continue to stand firmly behind the people of Lebanon for your very noble efforts. Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (Via interpreter) Thank you, Mr. Secretary General. I would now like to give the floor to Madame Condoleezza Rice.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much, Mr. President, and thank you very much for arranging this conference, for your steadfast dedication not just to this conference, but over a lifetime to Lebanon and to Lebanon's democracy. Thank you also to the French Government and to the people of France for hosting this conference.

I am really quite honored to share this platform with you, Prime Minister Siniora. You have been a leader of great strength for your people in these difficult times, someone who has stood with integrity and dignity under the most difficult circumstances. You have expressed what is best for Lebanon and what is best in the Lebanese people, and the international community greatly appreciates your leadership.

The conference today was, I think, a very important expression of the international community's intention to stand by Lebanon and by the Lebanese people in these difficult times. The United States, for its part, has pledged $770 million. That will bring to the total for the year to close to $1 billion, given the reconstruction assistance that the United States has already given. We have also organized a private sector initiative, and Prime Minister Siniora and I had the chance to meet this morning with the leaders of American industry, including the head of Intel, of Citibank*, Mr. Ghafari, who is himself of Lebanese origin, and John Chambers of Cisco Systems, who has organized this effort.

This public-private effort, as well as the efforts of the United States Government, we hope, will bring to the Lebanese people a sense that there is a hopeful future in which there will be greater economic prosperity, better jobs, better educational opportunities. And we know, Prime Minister Siniora, that you will carry through on the reforms that you have undertaken which will make it possible for these economic benefits to come to the Lebanese people.

But more than what this may do, what this money may do for infrastructure, for security reform, for economic support, we hope that the people of Lebanon will take it as an expression from the American people of our admiration for Lebanon, of our friendship for Lebanon and of our belief in the ability of the people of Lebanon to overcome difficult times.

The future of Lebanon is, of course, important to the people of Lebanon. It is why we will work with the international community to make certain that Resolution 1701 is fully implemented and that respect for Lebanese sovereignty, freedom from foreign interference, freedom from intimidation and violence, finally come to the Lebanese people.

But the future of Lebanon is important not only to the people of Lebanon, but also to the future of a troubled region because, Mr. Prime Minister, we know that the people of Lebanon want a Lebanon that is peaceful, unified, that respects Lebanon's great cultural and religious diversity and that shows that people who are different do not take that difference as a license to kill, but rather as a license to live together in peace, in honor and prosperity. That is a message that is important not just for Lebanon but for the region, and we will stand with you in that quest. Thank you.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much, Dr. Rice. Let me give the floor now to President Barroso.

MR. BARROSO: (Via interepreter) Thank you, President. First of all, I would like to thank President Chirac and France for taking the initiative of organizing this conference on support for Lebanon. Prime Minister Siniora, I think the international community has shown here today its support to your country and to your government, which is a democratically elected country and also commits to the people of Lebanon being able to live in peace and security.

As the President said earlier on, we have collected $7,600,000,000 today. The European Commission has committed to 550 million Euros and if we look at the EU as a whole, that is what the Commission has committed, plus the European Investment Bank and the others, this represents approximately 2,400,000,000 Euros. That is $2,900,000,000. That is 40 percent of the contributions to Lebanon. I think this is proof, if any were required, of our conviction and dedication to Lebanon. We are alongside with you and, as the Secretary General of the United Nations said so clearly, the international community is standing alongside the Lebanese people.

But as was also said by others, first and foremost, this is for the Lebanese people to show their desire to reach reconciliation and reach a national consensus so that they may consolidate their nation, their state, and we hope that other states in the region may be able to respect the integrity of Lebanon. This is our deepest desire and our expression of solidarity. Thank you.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (Via interpreter) Thank you. May I give the floor now to His Royal Highness Prince Faysal.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAUD: Thank you, Mr. President, for including me in this press conference and I especially thank you for the special honor of giving me the last word. It's not often that I have that privilege. (Laughter.)

I won't add much to what has been said here. Thanks, of course, must be given to the President, as the Secretary of State has said, not for just this meeting, but for perhaps a lifetime of interest in the Lebanon, the idea of the Lebanon, and helping Lebanon to survive the crises that have always been beyond its capacity and always been not their responsibility.

I think the conference succeeded in achieving its objectives. The friends of Lebanon have come through again in spite of past experiences, which is now the duty of the Lebanese to prove that they can work together with the international community to bring back to Lebanon what it has lost in the strife that they have faced in the past.

So we go from this conference fully confident that if we have the support of the Lebanese people, because this aid is for all the Lebanese, as the Prime Minister has said, then Lebanon will come back to what it was, and then it can live in peace and security. The importance in Lebanon is in its makeup. We talk about confrontation; of religious confrontation, of ethnic confrontation in the Middle East, of a struggle between civilizations. Lebanon represents all those, and if can live in peace with itself, it certainly can convey these ideas and the possibility of their success to the whole region. And we certainly need that not only in the Middle East, but in the international community.

Thank you again, Mr. President, for all the work that you have done. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (Via interpreter) I simply wanted to add one word to what his Royal Highness has just said, which is my very deep gratitude for the very personal initiative taken by His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia, who from the outset mobilized and thanks to whom things panned out as they have.

Perhaps we could take a few questions, two or three questions that you can put to any member of the panel, as it were, or any of us up here on the podium. Yes, madame. Start by saying to whom this question is aimed

QUESTION: Handa Takadin (ph), al Hayat. Thank you, President, for such a successful conference. To you and to Prince Saud al-Faysal, if possible.

Madame Secretary, President Chirac this morning appealed for withdrawal of Israel from the Shebaa Farms and we understand that you've been asked to do some pressure on the Israelis to withdraw from Shebaa to take off this argument from Hezbollah. So where are these efforts and do you think this can happen soon?

Your Highness, we hear that there are efforts between Saudi Arabia and Iran and an official visit to Tehran for to help in having calm restored in Lebanon. Could you tell us about this visit, if it's really true and what are -- what is the initiative of Saudi Arabia to do -- to try to get a settlement in Lebanon? Thank you.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Well, the issue, of course, of Shebaa Farms was raised within Resolution 1701 and it is to be dealt with in a report from the Secretary General of the United Nations. We, of course, had a transition from one Secretary General to another, but I know that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is very much aware of the responsibility of the UN to look at this issue. It involves, of course, former decisions of the United Nations, standing decisions of the United Nations, and so that is the appropriate place for it to be dealt with. And we look forward to the report of the Secretary General on this and other aspects of 1701 as soon as possible so that we can see what resolutions are necessary and possible.

FOREIGN MINISTER SAUD: Thank you. It's quite a jump from one end of the table to the other. (Laughter.) But there is no initiative, really, which we can call a Saudi initiative. There was a message received by the King of Saudi Arabia from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei which was responded to by the Custodian. The message was an effort to cooperate in order to achieve solidarity between Muslims. And the return message was that if this is the intention, then it is actions that speak louder than words, and that if Iran can do anything to quieten its supporters in the region, that this would be the best service that can be done for the solidarity of the Muslim Umma. This was the extent of (inaudible). But we recognize, of course, that since that message went things quieted down so there must be some influence that they wield in the region. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) President, so far as you initiated the process and you've committed to throw yourself in and join the success of this conference, do you think the very sad events that have occurred in Beirut today are in any way going to dampen the optimism that has been the outcome of this Paris meeting; or, on the contrary, do you think they're going to have the reverse effect? Thank you.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (Via interpreter) I am fully aware of the events which Mr. Siniora mentioned earlier on and I regret them totally and lament that fact because violence is never a proper or intelligent response to any problem, whatever the problem. But you know I've made a certain number of appeals for calm. There have been appeals for calm made by different and important Lebanese authorities the beginning this afternoon and I truly hope that they will be listened to.

QUESTION: Secretary Rice, this morning, you said that the U.S. aid pledge was for all the Lebanese people and Prime Minister Siniora also said that there were no conditions. Does that mean that any democratically elected government of -- including one led and controlled by Hezbollah, would receive the money? And if not, what mechanisms are there in place to prevent the U.S. money from going to Hezbollah?

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you, Helene. First of all, the aid package does have elements that are to support various elements of economic reform, and I think that should be understood and I think that is true of many of the donor pledges here. We are dealing with the duly elected Government of Lebanon, Prime Minister Siniora. I don't have any desire to get into hypotheticals about Lebanon's future because I am very much concentrated right now, as the people at this conference are, on helping this democratically elected government to secure its sovereignty, to secure its peace, to secure reconciliation among its people. And that is the purpose of this package and it is indeed for all the Lebanese people.

You know that Hezbollah is classified by the United States as a terrorist organization. I think you're aware of that and I should state that that has not changed. But our purpose here and our goal here, and indeed our focus here, is on this democratically elected government that has undertaken economic reforms that I think, if carried through, would be unprecedented for Lebanon and for the region. And we are going to support that and we are going to support it strongly.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. Madame Secretary, this pledging $770 million for Lebanon, does that require the approval of the American Congress first, because you are facing some difficulties in convincing the Democrats to vote for any initiative in raising the money? And to what extent are you continuing with this foreign policy, foreign strategy where it is the use of military might and the use of money can bring democracy, peace to the Middle East? Thank you.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you. Well, first of all, I think that the only thing that will be -- that will bring democracy and peace to the Middle East is the people of the Middle East. They have to make that choice. What has happened, though, over the last many, many decades is that there has not been enough international voice on behalf of those who wish to make that choice. And what the United States is trying to do is to create and -- is to strengthen the voices of those who wish to choose democracy.

I will tell you, I don't believe that you have to impose democracy; you have to impose tyranny. If you ask people, do you wish to have a say in who will govern you, as the Lebanese people had a say when they elected this government, people will say yes. They will say yes, whether they are along dusty roads in Afghanistan, whether they're in difficult circumstances in Iraq, or whether they're any place else in the world. If you ask them, do you want a voice in your future, they will say yes. If you ask them, do you want to be free from the intimidation of the state, they will say yes.

And so democracy, I think, and the desire for freedom is something that is shared by all human beings. When we support a people that are looking to a democratic future with our economic resources, it is to support their efforts, not to support an American idea of how they will carry out their reforms. This economic reform was put together by Lebanese.

When, as was the occasion in both Afghanistan and Iraq, there was for both security reasons, and frankly for humanitarian reasons as well, the need to help in the liberation of a people, we have done that. But those are rarer occasions than the ones in which we are supporting governments that have just come into power through democratic means, people that are trying to throw off foreign interference, and where we're doing it with our significant economic, foreign sector, trade -- pardon, private sector and trade support.

That is really the policy of the United States of America, that people of the Middle East are finding their way to democracy. In some circumstances, we have helped to liberate peoples from terrible regimes. But in other places, they have liberated themselves, as the Lebanese did when after the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, the Lebanese people said, "Enough." And when they said, "Enough," the American people wanted to support them in that quest.

QUESTION: I am from the -- from a French-speaking magazine in Germany. But when I received a message by mail about this event, I decided to come because it is a historical event. Lebanon needs this sort of initiative, needs not only political interest to be shown, but affection and love to be expressed. Solidarity is a universal feature and we all have to pool together, pool our resources, to express this. We are all from different parts of the world, different cultures, different religions, from America, from Europe and elsewhere.

So my question, first of all, to you, President, is what does this day represent for you? And my second question is to Mr. Siniora. There is a silent majority in Lebanon who, for the past 30 years, has not been -- had any resort to violence, from 1975 to today. Will that have a role to play?

And thirdly, Mr. Barroso, Europe is taking on -- has got a European -- has got a Lebanese name, Europa. Now do you not wish to express further commitments to this part of the world?

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: Let me just say, and I will be very simple, that there is no other solution except the dialogue between cultures and civilization. And apart from dialogue, things -- everything else -- is bad news.

I think you had another question for Mr. Siniora?

PRIME MINISTER SINIORA: A certain question, yes. You're talking about the silent majority. Yes, there is definitely in every society, including the Lebanese society, some silent majority. And these are the people we want to address ourselves to, as well as to all the other Lebanese, is that we are working for them. And whether by adopting this reform program, as well as and trying to work together for all the Lebanese to live in dignity and in freedom and to be able to express themselves without being intimidated. These are the people who want to really work together and build their future together.

So this is -- I'm talking about the silent majority. Yes, we are working for them and we are including them. And our program actually is ultimately for the benefit of those who could not really speak at one time. Now it is their right to express their views and participate in all public life so that they can work together with all their countrymen for the Lebanon that we all aspire to have.

MR. BARROSO: I can say that Europe is very proud of the contributions it's made to Lebanon. I have said that our contribution has been marked up a great deal and I have done this to various European Union bodies and institutions. So it's not merely financial aid. It is -- as you said, it is the fact that we are expressing solidarity, interest, support, and I think France is a good example of this.

But also I think as far as political and military stabilization is concerned, once again the Europeans were the first to step in for the UNIFIL, and UNIFIL right now is under Italian command. And I would particularly like to thank Italy and France for their role and their contribution in committing young soldiers from their countries to Lebanon to ensure the security of Lebanon. Therefore, Europe is very proud of its links with Lebanon, with Phoenicia, with the Mediterranean, and we are proud to respond in this way to support Lebanon.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) I'd like to ask a few questions. I'm from an Israeli newspaper, Al-Hayat. My first question is, after this international conference on the support of Lebanon, President, why not have another conference to have support for Israel? As you know, Israel has also lost millions of dollars because of this war. The war began and was launched by the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

We are neighbors. We don't have any war between us, we don't have any dispute between us. Why not make an effort like the President Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian president who came to Jerusalem and spoke to the Israeli parliament? Why not be a hero of the peace and make an effort for the peace in the Middle East?

And one question for you, Mr. Prime Minister Siniora. We mustn't, I think, forget in this day that all of this began because of the abduction of two Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser who had been abducted on the 12th of July by a Lebanese organization, Hezbollah. And you said yesterday, Mr. Siniora, that you don't have any clues, anything and any information on their fate, but don't you think that you must, as the Lebanese Prime Minister, to do any effort that you can to liberate those abducted soldiers?

Thank you very much.

PRIME MINISTER SINIORA: Let me start, because this is a multifaceted question. Well, if we go back only to the 12th of July, that's correct that there has been an incident across the blue line. But is this really the reason? Everybody knows that Israel has been occupying Lebanon for quite a long period of time. For 22 years, Israel, since 1978, has been occupying Lebanon. They withdrew from Lebanon after all sorts of atrocities that were really afflicted on Lebanon.

But they left a certain part of Lebanon which is still occupied. The problem is the occupation. The problem is the occupation that is leading to all these types of problems. And there can't be a real solution if we can't really address the issue itself, which is the continuation of the occupation, either it is in Shebaa Farms or in the Golan Heights or in the West Bank or in Gaza. This is the problem.

I think the Arabs, they have made a very important initiative, which is the peace initiative, and still it's not being really picked up by the Israelis. The Israelis have been really moving from one fold into the other and the last of which was the disproportionate attack against Lebanon, assuming that they want to really say that there is a reason, which is the crossing of the blue line and the abduction of the two soldiers.

Well, it happened, yes, that's correct. But don't you forget that Israel has been detaining so many Lebanese in its prisons without answer. Israel has been occupying the Shebaa Farms and it is continuing. Israel is still violating our airspace and it's still continuing. And actually, every day Lebanon is paying a price for all the landmines that were planted by Israel. Over 380,000 landmines are still in Lebanese soil and most of the maps that were really behind the planting of these landmines haven't been provided to Lebanon yet.

Besides that, everybody knows that Israel has thrown over Lebanon in a matter of 36 hours from the date of the issuance of the 1701 until the date of the cessation of hostilities. There are still more than 1.2 million bomblets that are that are afflicting damages, killing people and injuring people in Lebanon. Nevertheless, I think Israel, in its last attack in Lebanon, came to really have to make the proper conclusion, is that force cannot really solve any problem.

At the end of the day, Israel, if it's going to really live together in this part of the world, the only source of security and safety is how to build good relations with its neighbors. And to do that, there is a good roadmap, which is the Arab initiative that really arranges for a real solution; that is for a lasting, comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East. This is the way how the whole Arab world can live together in peace and in prosperity with Israel. This is the real roadmap that can really take us.

And it is high time that your youth and the youth of the Arab world can live together, that they can really do everything so that -- to avoid violence and to avoid the resort to power and to weapons, which has proved over all the past decades that did not lead anywhere. To the contrary, it added more ruptures, more enmity, and did not provide Israel itself neither with security nor with safety. (Applause.)

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) One last question (inaudible) my last question (inaudible) Beirut Radio. I would like to conclude by thanking you, President Jacques Chirac. As a Lebanese, I would like to thank you for all the efforts that you've deployed for my country. And I would ask you to send a message to all the Lebanese, those who are in the majority, those who are in the opposition, for peace and stability to be restored in our country and to take on board the success of Paris III.

And for my Prime Minister, I would like to say the following. Prime Minister, will you be going back to Beirut or are you going to stay here after the events that have taken place in Beirut?

PRIME MINISTER SINIORA: No, no, I'm going back to Beirut. I will be in Beirut.

PRESIDENT CHIRAC: Thank you. Madame -- dear Madame -- it is not I who should be thanked. I merely continued with a process that had already begun. And if one should thank anyone, I think we must thank the person who realized that this was something which was important for Lebanon, and that was Rafiq Hariri. He was the cause and the author of Paris I and Paris II. I helped him, that's for sure, and it is with his memory in mind that we have moved on to Paris III.

He was a man of huge generosity, huge intellect, who truly represented a crossroads of culture. He was exactly the opposite of a man who was in opposition with others. He was a man of peace. He has contributed a great deal to Lebanon and those who murdered him knew exactly what he stood for and what they have made disappear. So I think if we should have a thought today, whether we be Lebanese or Europeans or others, I think we should have in our mind the tribute that we owe to Rafiq Hariri.

Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER SINIORA: Let me just say one more -- one last word, is that we have at agreed inside in the conference to call this conference Rafiq Hariri Paris III Conference. Thank you. (Applause.)

______________________

* Citigroup


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