Lahoud thanks Czechs for support in ‘hard
times’
Premier calls for Israeli-Arab talks
President Emile Lahoud told an audience of Lebanese and Czech Republic officials on
Thursday that the two countries have shared the ability to “overcome the odds against
them and to show that might is not always right.”
Speaking at Prague Castle, the Czech presidential palace, Lahoud expressed gratitude to
the host country for supporting Lebanon in various international forums,
“particularly during recent hard times.”
Lahoud was on a two-day visit to the Czech Republic accompanied by first lady Andree
Lahoud, Deputy-Premier Issam Fares and Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud. The entourage had
also visited Slovakia before arriving in Prague, where they met with various officials
including Czech President Vaclav Havel before returning to Lebanon.
President Emile Lahoud indicated Thursday that it was time to resume negotiations between
Israelis and Arabs in compliance with the Madrid peace plan. Lahoud reiterated the
Arabs’ commitment to regional peace, pointing to the endorsement of the Arab Peace
Initiative at the Arab League summit in Beirut in March.
Meanwhile, Hammoud said Lahoud’s visits to Slovakia and the Czech Republic were aimed
at clarifying Lebanon’s attitude at a time when Arab countries are under significant
pressure.
Speaking to the team of reporters that accompanied the presidential party during its trip,
Hammoud said Lahoud’s talks in Bratislava and Prague focused on the Arab initiative,
which called for concluding a pan-Arab peace agreement with Israel in exchange for its
withdrawal from territories it seized in the 1967 war.
Hammoud said Lahoud also raised the issue of the right of return for Palestinian refugees,
saying the president called for supporting UN Resolution 194.
The minister stressed the importance of the tour, saying: “The Lebanese need friends
in international forums.”
In a separate address on Thursday night during a reception with members of the Lebanese
community in Prague, Lahoud urged the Lebanese to work toward maintaining a united
populace, government and army, adding that with such unity, “we have accomplished
miracles.”
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