Hizbullah questions timing of Saniora trip to U.S.

Source: Daily Star, 14-4-2006
BEIRUT: A senior Hizbullah official criticized the timing of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora`s upcoming visit to Washington on Thursday because it will coincide with the commemoration of an "Israeli" atrocity against Lebanese civilians. "It is regrettable that Saniora is meeting with the U.S. president on the day that commemorates the "Israeli" massacre in Qana in 1996," Sayyed Nawaf Musawi, Hizbullah`s officer for international relations, said in an interview with Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. television. "The meeting could have been any other day," he said.
He added, however, that Saniora`s meeting with President George W. Bush could also be an opportunity "to remind us of the continuous "Israeli" aggression against Lebanon."
Speaking to The Daily Star, a source from Saniora`s office said the premier would be discussing the overall Lebanese situation during his meeting with Bush, in addition to the problem of regular "Israeli" violations of Lebanese sovereignty, especially intrusions into the country`s airspace. The source said the premier would discuss four main issue related to "Israel" with U.S. officials.
""Israeli" occupation of the Shibaa Farms, the issue of Lebanese detainees in "Israeli" prison, minefields and "Israeli" overflights will all be discussed" in Washington, the source said.
Saniora`s delegation will include Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh - a Shiite minister close to Hizbullah - Finance Minister Jihad Azzour, and Justice Minister Charles Rizk.
In addition to Bush, Saniora is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He also has scheduled meetings in New York with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, UN chief of legal affairs Nicolas Michel and the UN`s special envoy for the implementation of Resolution 1559, Terje Roed-Larsen. The latter will be presenting his report on the implementation of 1559 to the Security Council during Saniora`s stay in New York.
The source in the Saniora`s office said meetings with the UN officials would focus on the issue of establishing an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.
Saniora`s trip to the U.S. comes as an anticipated visit to Syria waits for a green light from the Syrian government. The uncertain status of his visit to Damascus stood in stark contrast with a call paid by Hizbullah`s secretary general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, to the Syrian capital on Thursday.
Nasrallah made the trip to meet former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is currently in Syria on an official visit in his current capacity as head of the Islamic Republic`s powerful Expediency Council. No statements were made following the meeting.