Berri to Ki-Moon: Syrian Crisis Varies from Arab Spring, Demarcate Borders

He also demanded compensations for the oil spill caused by "Israel's" bombardment of storage tanks at the thermal power station in Jiyeh during the July 2006 "Israeli" aggression against Lebanon.

"To date, "Israel" has not accepted to turn the post-July war cessation of hostilities into a permanent ceasefire in order to justify incessant over flights in Lebanese airspace and its naval and territorial violations," Berri added during talks in Ain al-Tineh with the UN chief.

During the meeting, Berri asserted that "the spirit of UN Resolution 1701 requires that the UN demarcates Lebanon's maritime borders, in the vein of its demarcation of the land borders, given that it is an international peacekeeping force."

Asking for "serious support from the United Nations after the conference held by Lebanon on the disposal of the cluster bombs left over from the "Israeli" aggression," the speaker also highlighted "the very solid relation between the Lebanese people in the South and UNIFIL peacekeepers."

Addressing the Syrian crisis, Berri noted that "what's happening in Syria is different than the so-called Arab Spring."

Berri also stressed his "support for the Arab initiative on Syria," expressing regret that "the initiative still lacks a political aspect and efforts by the Arab League to launch dialogue between the regime and the opposition."

Source: al-Intiqad, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org