Madrid, March 17: Newly appointed Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez held talks with top Lebanese officials Wednesday on efforts to resume Middle East peace talks to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
After talks with President Michel Sleiman at Baabda Palace, Jimenez said her regional tour aimed to push for the resumption of the peace process and to put pressure on rival parties to engage in negotiations.
“There is an opportunity more than any time in the past for all to engage in negotiations,” Jimenez told reporters. She added that her country did not fear an Israeli assault against Lebanon.
Sleiman stressed that the international community should put pressure on Israel to halt its violations of Lebanese sovereignty and commit to the Arab Peace Initiative to achieve a just peace.
The president restated Lebanon’s commitment to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and praised the participation of the Spanish contingent in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
After meeting Jimenez, Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati also praised the Spanish UNIFIL battalion’s efforts in preserving security and stability in south Lebanon.
Mikati also asked Spain to assist Lebanon in demarcating its maritime border with Israel.
Jimenez ended her visit by meeting Future Movement parliamentary bloc leader, MP and former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
——–Agencies