Tzipi Livni
Photo: AFP
Livni: Hizbullah will be political body once disarmed
Israeli foreign minister meets with Italian counterpart in Rome, calls on international community to show determination in dispatching multinational force. According to her, once Hizbullah is disarmed, it will become part of Lebanese politics
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Wednesday afternoon that following the changes jumpstarted by the UN resolution and the disarming of Hizbullah,
the organization will become an integral part of Lebanese politics. This was reported by the internet news site of Italian newspaper, La Republica.
Livni made these statements in a joint press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema in Rome after the two met. Livni said, Israel from the beginning knew help was needed to help the Lebanese Army ... Now the ball is in the European court."
She called for a rapid implementation of UN Resolution 1701. "Following the adoption of (UN) resolution 1701 there is a real need for a full and rapid implementation," Livni said following a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema.
"We are being watched...Also by the extremists who want to put the region in flames," she said. "This is also a test of the international community...and there is a big question whether the international community is willing to show determination in order to implement its own decision."
The Italian foreign minister told Livni that he approved of Italy's intentions to send troops to the multinational force in order to bring about the disarming of Hizbullah and a "normal and independent" Lebanon. Livni responded that there is an equation between the application of the embargo and the continuation of the blockade and that the two cannot be delinked.
Livni also referred to the Palestinian issue saying that efforts must be concentrated on preventing the Palestinian Authority from turning into a terrorist entity and on working toward an agreement with the Palestinians, citing that this is the answer to the refugee problem.
Nir Magal and news agencies contributed to this report.
