UN Secretary-General meets Israeli Prime Minister; renews call for lifting of Israeli blockade against Lebanon

(31 Aug. 2006) : United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan met on Wednesday with Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other top officials. Mr. Annan urged Mr. Olmert to immediately lift the blockade of Lebanon, which has now been in place for the past seven weeks and renewed calls for all sides to work responsibly for peace in the strife-torn region.
Mr. Annan told a joint press conference with the Israeli Prime Minister, “I have been urging for the immediate lifting of the blockade on Lebanon. It is important not only because of the economic effect it is having on the country but it is also important to strengthen the democratic Government of Lebanon with which Israel has repeatedly said it has no problems. When I was in Lebanon…I stressed the unambiguous and unconditional release of the abducted soldiers. And, of course, here I have also raised the question of the issue of the prisoners,” Mr. Annan said.
Mr. Annan, who is on a diplomatic tour of the region that will include stops in Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, and likely Syria and Iran as well, further said, I will also want to use this opportunity to call on all neighbours to really cooperate fully with the implementation of the Security Council resolution 1701. This is a resolution that Israel has accepted, the Lebanese Government, including Hizbollah, has accepted it. And we all have a responsibility to work to make sure that it is fully implemented,” the Secretary-General said.