Sleiman: Lebanon Appreciates Iran Support after July 2006 Israeli War

Al-Manar, 13/10/2010 “

Lebanon appreciates Iranian support in the confrontation with Israeli aggression, particularly after the July 2006 war which enabled Lebanon to withstand the enemy,” President Michel Sleiman told his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in remarks delivered at a televised lunch in Ba'abda Palace on Wednesday afternoon.
 
“That was by virtue of [Lebanon’s] army, people, and Resistance and its abilities, which the Lebanese state works to strengthen and place within a comprehensive defensive strategy,” Sleiman said.
 
He indicated that while Lebanon strives to compel Israel to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, “it reserves its right to retrieve and liberate its territories through all permissible and legitimate ways.” Having said this, we remain extremely cautious toward Israel’s attempts to sow division in Lebanon and divide its people, Sleiman said.
 
Sleiman said that he was pleased to expand bilateral cooperation, citing a “large group of agreements” he has signed with the Iranian leader.
 
Ahmadinejad hailed the “deep-rooted historical relations of friendliness between Iran and Lebanon,” particularly the cultural exchange carried by religious scholars traveling between the two countries.
 
“I present abundant thanks to the president, the speaker, and the prime minister, and to all those who carry the burden of service for the Lebanese people. Likewise, I thank here all those present for their attendance and also their attentiveness,” Ahmadinejad said.
 
Large crowd of politicians from March 14 alliance and opposition officials were attending the lunch in Baabda.
 
Before lunch, President Sleiman held with his Iranian counterpart a joint press conference in which they announced the signing of bilateral memoranda of understanding, including in the economic, trade, environmental and energy fields.
 
Sleiman thanked Ahmadinejad for Iran’s continuous support of Lebanon against Israeli aggression. “I assured Ahmadinejad that Lebanon is keen to oblige Israel on implementing UN Security Council resolutions,” Sleiman said. He stressed on the necessity of preserving national unity and fully implementing UN [Security Council] Resolution 1701.
 
“We also discussed international terrorism and how to differentiate it from the Resistance,” Sleiman said.
 
On the nuclear program, the Lebanese president said: We stress on the right of states, including Iran, to acquire nuclear energy and use it for peaceful purposes.
 
The Iranian president thanked Lebanese officials and its people for hospitality. “I feel like I am in my home and country,” Ahmadinejad said adding that Lebanon’s ability to be resilient deserves flattering since it brought pride to the countries of the Middle East.
 
Ahmadinejad said the talks with Sleiman were “constructive” praising him for being a “strong and firm man”. “I assured him that bilateral cooperation has no limits. We signed many agreements on different levels,” he announced.
 
“We support Lebanon’s bitter struggle in confronting Israeli assaults. We demand with all seriousness and insistence the liberation of all occupied land in Lebanon and Syria,” Ahmadinejad said. “We demand a united and strong Lebanon and we stand by the government and people so this people may achieve all its goals,” he added.
 
Ahmadinejad also thanked Speaker Nabih Berri, who received him in the airport, and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, “because he is working for the interest of his country.”
 
At the end of the conference Ahmadinejad surprised Sleiman with an Iranian-made gift that only six states own it, Lebanon is the seventh. This device would help Lebanon with its scientific research efforts.

Ahmadinejad Gifts Iran-Made Nanoscope to Lebanese Counterpart

BEIRUT, Oct. 13, 2010

TEHRAN (FNA)-

 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presented a home-made Iranian nanoscope to Lebanese President Michel Sulayman.

"The device is highly necessary for scientific and research projects and has completely been manufactured by Iranian scientists," Ahmadinejad said during a joint press conference with Sulayman, where he gifted the device to the Lebanese president.

Ahmadinejad pointed out that the nanoscope is a technologically complicated and advanced device and that only 5 or 6 countries have acquired or developed the technological know-how to produce the device.

"I, on behalf of the Iranian nation, kindly present my dear brother, the honorable president of Lebanon, with one of these devices. I know that his Excellency (President Sulayman) is in pursuit of the construction, advancement and development of Lebanon by all means and from the bottom of his heart and this device is gifted to him as a symbol of our solidarity and joint efforts on the path of science and construction," he added.

Ahmadinejad later briefed Sulayman about the operation of the nanoscope.

Ahmadinejad arrived in Beirut Wednesday morning to discuss expansion of bilateral ties and cooperation and exchange views over a range of regional and international issues in meetings with senior Lebanese officials. Thousands of the Lebanese people and officials extended an unprecedentedly warm welcome to Ahmadinejad after his arrival at Beirut airport.

The Iranian President had also earlier gifted similar Iran-made devices to the Brazilian and Venezuelan presidents as well as the Qatari Emir.

The production of the Iranian nanoscope, commercially known as NAMA, began in May 2007. The device which brings much scientific progress to research in various fields and provides nanotechnology researchers with analytic services has now become a necessary tool of advancement in the field of nanotechnology.

Iran has already sold a considerable number of this device to domestic and international research centers and universities.

Ahmadinejad: Iran supports Lebanon's unity

BEIRUT, Oct. 13, 2010 (Xinhua) --

 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that his country supported Lebanon's unity, after Lebanese political factions described his controversial visit as provocative.

"We support a united, developed and strong Lebanon," Ahmadinejad said at a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman.

The Lebanese were capable of "running their country on their own," he said while saluting the struggle of the Lebanese people in face of Israeli occupation and violations.

Meanwhile, Suleiman said the two countries have inked several agreements in the fields of trade, energy, agriculture, environment and education.

Iran said earlier that it is ready to equip the Lebanese Army, but no agreements on military cooperation were announced on Wednesday.

Ahmadinejad, who is on his first to Lebanon since he took office, was heavily criticized by the United States and Israel, who said last week his visit undermined Lebanon's sovereignty. Lebanese groups from the Western-backed March 14 Alliance also described the visit as provocative.

The Iranian president is expected to deliver a speech on Wednesday evening during a rally in Beirut's southern suburb Dahiyeh, a stronghold of Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

Iranian president slams reports over Hezbollah's involvement in Hariri's murder

BEIRUT, Oct. 13, 2010 (Xinhua) --

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday slammed the "fabricated" claims that Hezbollah was involved in the assassination of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

Deceitful hands have killed a dear friend (Rafic Hariri) who cared about his country, Ahmadinejad said when addressing tens of thousands of Lebanese at the Al-Raya Stadium in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiyeh.

"We are now witnessing how news reports are fabricated and international justice organizations are exploited to implicate other friends (Hezbollah) so as to sow strife," said the Iranian president, referring to recent reports that the UN-backed court probing the 2005 assassination of Hariri intended to indict "rogue " members of Hezbollah.

Ahmadinejad's controversial visit came at a delicate time when tensions between Hezbollah and the pro-Western bloc headed by Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri have been running high over the indictment to be announced by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Ahmadinejad reiterated his country's full support for Lebanese people's resistance against Israel, adding his country will stand by Lebanon against any Israeli "aggression."

Iranian president's two-day visit that started on Wednesday has received criticism from the United States, Israel and Lebanese pro- Western group March 14 Alliance.

Ahmadinejad is due to visit south Lebanon on Thursday, where he will inspect villages reconstructed with Iran's help following the Lebanon's 2006 war with Israel. The Iranian president will deliver a speech in the town of Bint Jbeil, a few kilometers from the border with Israel.

Editor: Mu Xuequan