Beirut Settles Debate: Deployment Matches with UNSCR 1701

Source: Al-Manar TV, 11-10-2008
Since its execution, the Syrian troop build-up has been subject to argument between Lebanese rival leaders and international prominent figures, expressing "illusory fears" of a Syrian renewed intervention in Lebanon.
However, the Lebanese cabinet settled the discussion on Friday by adopting the view of President Michel Suleiman which stipulates that the deployment of Syrian troops on Lebanon's northern border is aimed at fighting smuggling and matches with the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Putting an end to all interpretations and ambiguities, President Suleiman told the ministers that Syrian authorities were giving the Lebanese army command explanations about the deployment. He also recalled that he had contacted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who affirmed that the military reinforcement was one of the necessary procedures to prevent smuggling, according to the recommendations of Damascus summit held in August and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
The President asked the ministers of defense and interior to establish ongoing contacts with their Syrian counterparts in order to coordinate on delineating the border between the two countries.
The Council of Ministers also decided to dispatch a Lebanese military delegation to Damascus to reconsider the military and security coordination between the two neighbor countries. A similar delegation from Syria is expected to visit Lebanon next week for the same reason.
Meanwhile, and as "Israel" is escalating threats tones against Lebanon, amid total disregard by the March 14 bloc, the cabinet called on the international community to hold its responsibilities in this regard.
According to Information Minister Tarek Mitri, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora will send an official letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the dangerous "Israeli" threat, which President Suleiman characterized as attacks.
'BE READY FOR "ISREALI" PULLOUT FROM GHAJAR IN NOVEMBER!'
In the meantime, UNIFIL commander Claudio Graziano stressed that reports about arms smuggling to Hizbullah across the border are not true. He said that there were no proofs about the claims that Hizbullah was receiving weapons through the borders and affirmed that there were no armed elements, which proved the full implementation by Lebanon of Resolution 1701.
Speaking before the ambassadors of countries that have contributed troops to UNIFIL, Graziano made clear there are no expectations of war in the south but that "the situation could explode anytime as a result of a certain incident."
Graziano has reportedly informed the ambassadors about the details of the occupied Ghajar issue in addition to the deployment in the southern Litani area, at a time the "Israeli" army leadership has reportedly told the UNIFIL command to be ready for an "Israeli" pullout from the Lebanese part of the divided border village of Ghajar before the end of October.
In this context, Lebanese daily As-Safir quoted foreign diplomatic sources in Beirut as saying that UNIFIL drew the final plan for military- civilian deployment in the northern part of Ghajar and was awaiting the pullout decision.
It said that the date for withdrawal will be set as soon as a new "Israeli" government is formed under Tzipi Livni.