UN envoy Larsen is not making much progress in Beirut. Nabih Berri and other pro-Syrian figures are intent to remind him that his mandate does not include the issue of elections. Of course, elections are crucial. Should the sitting parliament simply extend its mandate, there is a real chance of chaos in my view.
Also during the current round of meeting the Shebaa farms issue came up again (see below). There is a key distinction that needs to be made on the farms and that is between sovereignty and ownership. There is no question that the farms are owned by Lebanese. The records show that, but this does not mean that the farms are therefore in Lebanon any more than the fact that an American owns land in Canada makes that land a part of the United States. This distinction needs to kept in mind as the following excerpt is read:
Defense Minister Mrad said: "I told the UN envoy that the Lebanese people have no consensus regarding Resolution 1559, but they agree on implementing Taif Accord, which contains a mechanism to fulfill the same tasks demanded by Resolution 1559."
Mrad also commented on Larsen's statement before the Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Sharaa that the Shebaa Farms, according to the UN, belong to Syria.
He said: "If Sharaa did not respond to Larsen's comment, I can correct this error. I can speak for Sharaa and confirm that the Farms are Lebanese property."
Larsen's statement regarding the Shebaa Farms stirred angry reactions from several political parties. Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya issued a strong statement condemning Larsen's claims and insisting the "Shebaa Farms and Kfar Shouba Hills are officially registered in Lebanese Registrar in Saida since the 1940s."
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