LOC15:11
12:11 GMT
CAIRO, July 3 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammad Al-Orabi
asserted Sunday that there is no room for making a choice between justice and
stability in Lebanon, noting that justice is a demand sought by each Lebanese,
and it is the real guarantee for stability.
Al-Orabi said here today, in statements to the press, that Egypt was keen
since the very beginning on the establishment of justice and the respect of
the procedures of the International Tribunal for Lebanon, which is tasked with
investigating into the assassination of ex-Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
Al-Hariri.
He also made clear that such keenness does not only stem out of legal and
moral obligation on establishing justice, but because the establishment of
justice is the only way to restrain the culprits, and stop the series of
assassinations, which Lebanon suffered from over the past years.
Further, he pointed out that the establishment of justice requires
sustaining the procedures of the International Tribunal for Lebanon according
to legal traditions, noting that investigation will be conducted with accused
"persons," and not with organizations or political or religious groups as "the
accused person is innocent until proven guilty."
Al-Orabi also expressed Egypt's confidence in the commitment of all
Lebanese parties to their national unity, recalling that the establishment of
justice serves the interests of all Lebanese who have previously agreed upon
this principle at the national dialogue conference.
He also said that Lebanese will not allow the "blood of martyrs" to become
a source of dissenstion among them.
Meanwhile, Al-Orabi received a phone call from head of the politburo of
Hamas movement Khaled Meshaal, in which both reviewed the latest developments
on the Palestinian scene, and Meshaal congratulated Al-Orabi on the new psot,
according to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Menha Bakhoum.
Bakhoum said that Meshaal expressed Hamas's appreciation for the role
played by Egypt in achieving the Palestinian reconciliation, and briefed the
Foreign Minister with latest developments on forming the Palestinian National
Unity government, expressing his resolve on visiting Cairo, and meeting
Al-Orabi in order to finalize talks on the Palestinian file.
On his part, Al-Orabi asserted the importance of completing other
obligations subsequent to the Palestinian reconciliation in order to move to
the stage of getting the international recognition of the Palestinian state,
and to invalidate any pretexts by Israel for avoiding the resumption of peace
negotiations. (end)
zab.aff
KUNA 031511 Jul 11NNNN