Lebanon tells Damascus it is time to begin border demarcation

Jan 6, 2009, 10:38 GMT

Beirut - Lebanon has informed Damascus of its readiness to begin demarcating the border between the two countries, local radio broadcasters reported Tuesday.

Border demarcation was one of the demands of United Nations Security Council resolutions, which ended a 33-day war between Israel and Hizbullah in the summer of 2006.

Additionally, UN officials say demarcation is necessary to combat cross-border smuggling.

'The Voice of Lebanon' radio station said that intensive global efforts would be launched 'to pressure Syria into facilitating border demarcation with Lebanon.'

It said these efforts aim at pressuring Syria into honouring commitments - including adoption of relevant UN resolutions - made by its President Bashar al-Assad to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman last August.

The report said concerned parties, particularly the United Nations and France, await the setting up of diplomatic ties between Damascus and Beirut, so issues such as the border demarcation can be addressed.

The UN has said that Damascus failed to provide international organizations with documents needed to define the borders of the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms. Those, in turn, are needed to establish Lebanon's sovereignty over the terrain.

UN special coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams on Thursday said he would visit Damascus early in January to discuss the relevant UN resolutions with al-Assad.