Iran angered by Zionist French FM's comments over Lebanon
Iran angered by Kouchner's comments over Lebanon
http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=21891&language=en
Iran on Monday expressed bewilderment at comments made by the French foreign minister over Tehran's role in Lebanon, saying it feared the remarks showed a lack of understanding. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had said on Sunday that pressure had to be exerted on Iran and its main regional ally Syria to avoid a "war" breaking out in Lebanon.
"We hope that his comments were not correctly translated. Because otherwise doubt would be cast over his realistic understanding of Lebanese affairs," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.
"Mr. Kouchner surely is aware that it is the Americans and some of their approaches that have become an obstacle in finding a solution and not any other sides," he said, according to the IRNA agency.
Kouchner is meanwhile in Cairo to discuss the Lebanese crisis with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and Arab League chief Amr Moussa. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that progress had to be made before the upcoming Lebanese presidential election, which he said was a key date. For his part, Kouchner said that Lebanon is in a hard and complicated case. He added that it has become one of the hardest cases in the world due to foreign interferences. France had gathered all the Lebanese parties for a conference near Paris earlier this month and sent a top envoy to the region for consultations with all the key players.
On Sunday, Kouchner gathered rival Lebanese leaders for their first face-to-face meeting in months at the French embassy in Beirut for a lunch as part of his three-day mediation mission. The lunch signaled a new phase in French efforts to resolve Lebanon's 8-month-old political crisis and the start of dialogue between the unconstitutional government of Fouad Saniora and the national opposition. He said the leaders had engaged with each other but much more needed to be done before a breakthrough was possible. He said he might return to Beirut in the second half of August. Kouchner also reiterated his fears that Lebanon could plunge into a new civil war if the crisis was not resolved through negotiations soon. Kouchner said his discussions with the various groupings in Beirut had focused on the two main issues: forming of a national unity government and the presidential election.
Iran starts road reconstruction project in Lebanon
Beirut, July 29, IRNA - Iranian headquarters responsible for the reconstruction of Lebanon's war-torn regions started rebuilding a road in the east of the country.
Head of the headquarters Hessam Khoshnevis, two Lebanese MPs, political and religious officials and local residents were present at the ceremony to launch reconstruction operations of a road destroyed during the Zionist regime's 33-day imposed war on Lebanon.
"The Iranian headquarter could have achieved further success in rebuilding the war-hit areas, if the Lebanese government had showed more inclination for cooperation," Khoshnevis said.
He added, "As nothing could cause an obstacle in the firm resolute of Hezbollah to resist against the Zionist regime, the Iranian headquarters also started Lebanon's reconstruction despite all difficulties and shortcomings in all fields."
The official noted that out of 25 bridges Iran has pledged to rebuild, the headquarters has so far completed the reconstruction of 12.
Iran has also promised to rebuild 63 villages, of which the reconstruction of 43 have been finished, he said, adding Iran has also ended rebuilding 149 schools and 50 mosques and other religious places.
Khoshnevis stated that Iran has pledged to carry out 1,032 reconstruction projects in Lebanon, adding it has so far conducted 704 plans.
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