Mikati meets Nasrallah, backs treaty with Syria

Daily Star BEIRUT: Following his meeting with Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Thursday, former Premier Najib Mikati said he got the impression the government crisis will be resolved soon, adding that Lebanese officials should implement the terms of the treaty with Syria.

Mikati added: "Each time I meet with Nasrallah, I become more convinced of the legitimacy of the resistance movement and the need to preserve it."

In addition to discussing regional and international conditions, Mikati said he discussed with the Hizbullah chief the local developments regarding the situation of the Cabinet. "I am sure the problem is on its way to being solved in conformity with the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese people."

Mikati said his views match those of Nasrallah on most issues. "As a true Lebanese citizen who cares and works for his country's best interests, I call on the government to implement the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty with Syria," he added.

"In certain cases, implementing the treaty went beyond the agreed terms, whereas in most cases, the spirit and true meaning of the treaty was overlooked and diminished," Mikati said.

In responding to calls to topple the Syrian regime, Mikati said: "these calls do not serve Lebanon but they serve certain super powers targeting Syria in such a way that we might question the real motives behind them."

He added that a stable Syria is beneficiary to Lebanon. "Preserving special ties with Syria is part of our National Accord's basic themes," he added.

Asked about the visit to Lebanon of British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, Mikati said: "His statements regarding Lebanon and Syria were mostly in support of preserving good relations in the same fashion that I explained, meaning good mutual ties."