By Khalil Fleihan
Daily Star correspondent

Germany and France called on Lebanon to join moves to combat weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical and biological, at a meeting the two countries’ ambassadors, Gunter Kneiss and Philippe Lecourtier, held at the Foreign Ministry Friday.
Speaking to reporters after talks with Butros Asaker, the ministry’s new director of political affairs, Lecourtier said he had come together with his German counterpart to present an initiative relating to the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
He added that a number of European states within the framework of the eight industrial countries together with the Americans and the Japanese had decided to form a group to combat the spread of these weapons.
Lecourtier said smuggling operations were taking place and there were countries which did not want to respect international legality and sought to acquire this kind of weapon.
“Even more, there are terrorist groups seeking to acquire these weapons for the purpose of using them,” he added.
“I have explained to the Lebanese authorities the aim of the group of states for combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction. This initiative began taking shape and giving practical results because of the exchange of information to intercept ships quietly and planes and trucks which may be carrying weapons of mass destruction,” he said.
“We asked whether Lebanon is interested in joining this group of countries under the auspices of the UN. This group is open to all countries wishing to do so,” Lecourtier added.
He said that the Lebanese
reply was characterized with certain “openness,” namely that Lebanon agreed to do so
as a principle, but as to the means to be followed, this would have to be decided upon after consultations.
He explained that his coming to the Foreign Ministry together with his German counterpart was due to the fact that the two countries were among those most keen to form such a group.