Anniversary of the liberation of Southern Lebanon commemorated

The 4th anniversary of the liberation of Southern Lebanon and 
Western Bekaa, through the struggle and resistance of its people 
against the Israeli occupiers, was commemorated on June 1 in 
Cuba. However, there are still some areas that remain under 
Israeli control.

Tony Badawi, extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador of the 
Republic of Lebanon in Cuba, reiterated his country's support for 
the Cuban Revolution and rejected measures to further intensify 
the blockade.

"It was the first time in the history of the Arab-Israeli 
conflict that the Zionist forces of occupation were obliged to 
unconditionally withdraw from an occupied territory ... after the 
people's heroic resistance", the ambassador told a press 
conference.

Lebanon is today reaffirming its disposition to continue 
respecting its commitment to the so-called "blue line" (its 
national borders), while at the same time demanding that Israel 
withdraw its troops from Arab lands.

Mr Badawi reiterated the legal and moral right of the 400,000 
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon to return to their homeland.

The occupation of Iraq and the Israeli aggression against the 
Palestinians are endangering the normal functioning of the 
countries in the region and other parts of the world, he stated.

"Israel should withdraw to its 1967 borders and Jerusalem should 
be the capital of Palestine; that is the only way to reach peace 
in the Middle East.

"Lebanon demands that its prisoners be freed, that the 
whereabouts of its disappeared be made known, that the bodies be 
returned, as well as access to maps in Israeli possession of 
mines laid in various villages, which currently represent a 
mortal danger to many people in Lebanon, and which have caused 
the death of women and children", Badawi stated.

The diplomat added that the Chebaa farmland, still in Israeli 
possession, should be returned to his country.

Political relations between his country and Cuba are excellent, 
he noted, although more joint work needs to be done to extend and 
diversify trade relations.

Lastly, he thanked Cuba and its President for the solidarity and 
support consistently offered to his people and to the Arab cause.

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Granma