Cyprus to plead Lebanon cause

Alex Efthyvoulos reports from Beirut

Cyprus and Lebanon, both victims of foreign agrression, understand and support each other so profoundly that Cyprus’ membership of the European Union and participation in EU decisions «makes us feel as if we are there ourselves,’’ the Lebanese President told the visiting Cyprus foreign Minister here yesterday.

This revealing snippet about the deep bond between the two countries came when President Fuad Siniora asked George Lilikas to plead Lebanon’s cause for support and reconstruction aid, to repair the ravages of the latest Israel aggression and savage bombing, when he attends today’s meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Lillikas, who had an opportunity to see some of the devastation in the southern, mainly Muslim sector, of Beirut caused by the month-long Israeli attacks during his brief six-hour visit to the Lebanese capital responded to Siniora’s pleas promising he would do everything possible.

«I am here to express to the government and people of Lebanon the solidarity of the people of Cyprus and our readiness to assist in every possible way,’’ he added.

Following his separate talks with Siniora and his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh Lillikas said that as part of this assistance Cyprus is offering its ports of Larnaca and Limassol and the Andreas Papandreou airbase for use both by the proposed United Nations Peace Force for Lebanon and for the handling of the badly needed reconstruction and humanitarian aid shipments to the war-ravaged country.

«Cyprus has decided to offer its ports and airports and other facilities to the UN, the EU and also to other countries that will want to jopin the peacekeeping force,’’ he said.

Shaken

Lillikas was visibly shaken by the scene of the total devastation of the Beirut neighbourhood he visited. This appeared as if it had been flattened by a major earthquake with high rise apartment buildings collapsed in a pile of broken masonry.

«These scenes of biblical destruction cause great pain. One wonders why such pointless destruction that has caused so many deaths and human suffering is allowed to take place. This scene dictates that differences must be settled through a peaceful dialogue and discussion and not through the use of force,’’ he said.

Both Siniora and Salloukh expressed their deep gratitude to Cyprus for the assistance it has already offred to Lebanon by helping the thousands of Lebanese evacuees fleeing the country via Cyprus during the month-long fighting.

Responding to Siniora's request to plead Lebanon's cause during the EU foreign ministers meeting, Lillikas said «I will relay these just demands to the foreign ministers.'' He added that Cyprus and Lebanon, as two countries that are both victim of foreign aggression, «have this in common and this creates a bond between us.''

He said that the Lebanese Prime Minister had asked him to relay to the EU ministerial meeting Lebanon's appeal for the strict and complete implementnation of the UN Security Council resolution which calls for an end of the Israeli blockade of Lebanon's ports and airports.

In this respect Lillikas said that as soon as this blockade is lifted Cyprus Airways will resume its flights to Beirut.

He added that Cyprus will fully back Lebanon's demands and will participate in the various reconstruction projects and cooperation with EU states to this end.

In connection with the involvement of Cyprus in the UN peacekeeping operation Lillikas said that this will be limited to the secondment of two officers only. He regretted Cyporus could not do more because of the fact of the Turkish occupation.

In addition to his meetings with the prime minister and foreign minister Lillikas also conferred and had lunch with Sa'ad Hariri, the son of the assassinated Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic al-Hariri, who is the leader of a new political party, ‘The Future Movement Bloc.’

«I hope the next time I meet Mr Hariri security and stability will prevail throughout Lebanon,'' Lillikas told reporters.

His only other meeting during his brief visit was with the Orthodox Bishop of Beirut Elias Audi at the ornate Orthodox Metropolis in the capital. Lillikas promised to help the Metropolis as part of its general support for Lebanon, recalling that the Cyprus Orthodox Church, through the Bishops of Kykko and Paphos, had already sent a shipment of aid to Lebanon.