By Xinhua,
Beijing : German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was pleased with the “first step” in the exchange of detainees between Israel and Hezbollah.
His remarks were made in a press conference following his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora in Beirut Sunday.
“We are pleased that this exchange operation is a first step to a positive dynamic in secret talks aimed at achieving the final exchange operation,” Steinmeier said.
Earlier, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Jerusalem confirmed that its representatives had received a box containing the remains of Israeli soldiers at the Rosh Hanikra border crossing between Israel and Lebanon.
Regarding the Lebanese domestic file, Steinmeier hailed the Doha accord, which helped end the standoff between Lebanon’s ruling coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition, as “an important step to resolve conflict in Lebanon”, stressing on the importance of “security and stability away from the use of arms and violence”.
He revealed that Lebanese president Michel Suleiman conveyed to him that dialogue will start on all issues after the new government is formed.
Steinmeier expressed his government’s determination to support Lebanon through its UNIFIL presence off shore the country, and the surveillance on the northern Syrian Lebanese boarders.
German maritime forces in UNIFIL are assigned according to UN resolution 1701, reached in August, 2006, to prevent weapon smuggling into the country.
The German foreign minister arrived Sunday in Beirut, and met with parliament speaker Nabih Berri, President Michel Suleiman and Premier Fouad Seniora before heading to tour his German UNIFIL Maritime forces.