(foto AP)
Het is duidelijk dat de pro-Hezbollah en pro-Iraanse krachten in Libanon de overhand hebben gekregen. Verschillende pro-Westerse journalisten en politici hebben de afgelopen jaren aan den lijve ondervonden dat het gevaarlijk is om openlijk kritiek te uiten op Hezbollah of Syrië. De ontwapening van Hezbollah, zoals die is afgesproken bij het einde van de burgeroorlog maar ook is vastgelegd in VN resoluties, is geen onderwerp van debat meer. Het bezoek van Achmadinejad, op uitnodiging van president Suleiman, is een reflectie van de nieuwe machtsverhoudingen en een slecht teken. Libanon lijkt een vazalstaat te worden van Iran, en via Libanon kan Achmadinejad aartsvijand Israel bedreigen en onder druk zetten. Of hij een symbolische steen over de grens gaat gooien is de vraag, maar hij heeft er belang bij dat de situatie aan de grens gespannen is en Israel zich bedreigd voelt. En nee, Israel bezet allang geen Libenees land meer en heeft zich geheel teruggetrokken achter de zogenaamde Blauwe Lijn, de internationaal erkende grens tussen Israel en Libanon. Toch staan er vijftig duizend raketten in Zuid Libanon gericht op Israel. Het lijkt een kwestie van tijd tot de volgende oorlog uitbreekt, met waarschijnlijk meer doden en verwoestingen aan beide kanten.
RP
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Clinton: We oppose efforts to destabilize Lebanon
http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=191262"We discussed int'l terrorism and how to differentiate it from the resistance," Suleiman says after meeting Iranian president.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that,"The United States supports the integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. We reject any efforts to destabilize or inflame tensions within Lebanon," referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's arrival in Beirut on Wednesday, AFP reported.
Ahmadinejad met with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman earlier Wednesday and was scheduled to meet with Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah later the same day.
The Iranian president said at a press conference that that Lebanon and Iran are fighting the Zionists together.
"We support Lebanon fully, and we call for the liberation of occupied lands in Lebanon and in Syria," he said.
Ahmadinejad said of Lebanon, "I feel like I am at home, like I am in my country."
The Iranian president presented a gift to the president, which was only described as a "state of the art device owned by only six countries across the globe." He said that the device would be useful for scientific research.
"We seek a unified, modern Lebanon, and we stand by the Lebanese government and people," Ahmadinejad said. "We have both common interests and enemies."
Suleiman went on to thank his Iranian partner for Iran's support, saying, "I assured Ahmadinejad that Lebanon is keen to oblige Israel on implementing UN Security Council resolutions." He continued, "We also discussed international terrorism and how to differentiate it from the resistance."
Speaking about Iran's controversial nuclear program, the Lebanese president said that he stresses "the right of states, including Iran, to acquire nuclear energy and use it for peaceful purposes."
At the press conference, the two presidents announced that they had signed bilateral memoranda of understanding on economic, trade, environmental and energy issues.
Earlier Wednesday, thousands of Lebanese - mostly Hizbullah backers - lined the main highway into the capital from Beirut's airport, where Ahmadinejad arrived Wednesday. Loudspeakers blasted songs as women sold Hizbullah flags and balloons to onlookers.
The Lebanese daily Assafir reported that Ahmadinejad may hold a tripartite meeting with Turkish Prime Minster Tayyip Erdogan and Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri on Friday.
The paper reported that the Iranian president extended his trip so the three can meet "amid major headlines."
Ahmadinejad is expected to visit battlegrounds of the Second Lebanon War in southern Lebanon, including Bint Jbail and Maroun a-Ras on Wednesday and Thursday, and reportedly wants to go to the border with Israel and throw rocks at IDF soldiers.
Ahmadinejad met with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman earlier Wednesday and was scheduled to meet with Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah later the same day.
The Iranian president said at a press conference that that Lebanon and Iran are fighting the Zionists together.
"We support Lebanon fully, and we call for the liberation of occupied lands in Lebanon and in Syria," he said.
Ahmadinejad said of Lebanon, "I feel like I am at home, like I am in my country."
The Iranian president presented a gift to the president, which was only described as a "state of the art device owned by only six countries across the globe." He said that the device would be useful for scientific research.
"We seek a unified, modern Lebanon, and we stand by the Lebanese government and people," Ahmadinejad said. "We have both common interests and enemies."
Suleiman went on to thank his Iranian partner for Iran's support, saying, "I assured Ahmadinejad that Lebanon is keen to oblige Israel on implementing UN Security Council resolutions." He continued, "We also discussed international terrorism and how to differentiate it from the resistance."
Speaking about Iran's controversial nuclear program, the Lebanese president said that he stresses "the right of states, including Iran, to acquire nuclear energy and use it for peaceful purposes."
At the press conference, the two presidents announced that they had signed bilateral memoranda of understanding on economic, trade, environmental and energy issues.
Earlier Wednesday, thousands of Lebanese - mostly Hizbullah backers - lined the main highway into the capital from Beirut's airport, where Ahmadinejad arrived Wednesday. Loudspeakers blasted songs as women sold Hizbullah flags and balloons to onlookers.
The Lebanese daily Assafir reported that Ahmadinejad may hold a tripartite meeting with Turkish Prime Minster Tayyip Erdogan and Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri on Friday.
The paper reported that the Iranian president extended his trip so the three can meet "amid major headlines."
Ahmadinejad is expected to visit battlegrounds of the Second Lebanon War in southern Lebanon, including Bint Jbail and Maroun a-Ras on Wednesday and Thursday, and reportedly wants to go to the border with Israel and throw rocks at IDF soldiers.
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