By Hadi Khatib
Lebanonwire staff

While Saudi Arabia cautiously backed any initiative to help Lebanon overcome its crisis, US Vice President Dick Cheney reaffirmed his country’s steadfastness in achieving Lebanon’s drive for independence and sovereignty, restating US demands as outlined in a number of UN Security Resolutions including disarming Hezbollah and prosecuting former premier Rafiq Hariri’s killers.

Al-Mustaqbal daily published Cheney’s statements made during a speech at the US-Israeli Foreign Relations Council where he said that Syria “must stop interfering in the future of a free Lebanon” and that the US is committed to Lebanon’s sovereignty and drive for independence and to removing the weapons of militias. Cheney was quoted as saying “the investigation into the Hariri murder has to continue until all culprits are held accountable regardless of their ranks.”

“The whole world can see the changes taking place in Lebanon and Lebanese deserve the right to choose their own future and a president that looks to the future and not the past,” Cheney said according to the daily. Cheney said US support for change towards democratic rule and reform in the Arabic world “will not waver”, denying what is being said about the destabilizing effect democratization might have, especially with Palestinian faction Hamas winning the Palestinian parliamentary elections.

“We have the Lebanese experience as proof that this is not true,” Cheney highlighted.

Meanwhile, the daily also published Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faysal’s comments where he expressed his country’s hope that Lebanese come to an understanding on how to solve their internal problems saying “this is a critical time for Lebanon.” Faysal said that any Arab initiative depends on an official request from Lebanon and added that Lebanese-Syrian relations should be based on solid foundations.

Faysal made his comments to French reporters who accompanied French President Jacques Chirac to Saudi Arabia on a three day official visit to reinforce business and economic bilateral ties, but what was also an occasion for Saudi King Abdullah and Chirac to discuss a number of regional issues, including Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Palestine. “The two leaders had identical ideas and harmoniously agreed on all these issues,” Faysal said adding “especially with respect to Lebanon, where the two leaders have both backed the stability, prosperity and independence of Lebanon and we hope that the dialogue taking place there achieves its intended purpose of bringing peace back to that country.”

Faysal said that as long as Lebanese can solve their own domestic problems, then no one will step in to help unless they are invited.

“As for the Syrian-Lebanese relations, geography and history are proof that the stability of one depends on the stability of the other, so it is to their own advantage to built amicable and sound relations instead of exchanging accusations which only serve the purpose of destabilizing the other,” Faysal said.

Copyright © 1999-2005 Lebanonwire^®.com. All rights reserved.