Palestinian State Minister for Refugee Affairs Abbas Zaki said Wednesday that current Palestinian-Lebanese issues will soon be solved, and announced ongoing preparations to establish diplomatic representation with Lebanon. Zaki, who is also member of Fatah's
central committee, was speaking during a news conference after he met with Lebanese Premier Fouad Siniora at the Grand Serail.The pending issues Zaki spoke of include the legal status of Fatah's commander in Lebanon, Sultan Abu al-Aynayn, wanted by the Lebanese military court.
"Lebanese law and preserving Lebanon's security and sovereignty are the basis for solving all the pending issues," said Zaki. "We will announce in the coming days a series of measurement that will reassure all the parties."
Zaki added that the "Lebanese and the Palestinians will execute a series of measures as soon as possible to finalize the establishment of diplomatic representation. The Lebanese are serious about realizing this matter."Zaki noted that "technical committees" will follow up on the agreement reached with Siniora, which was based on "refusing settlement, migration and improving the Palestinian refugees' living conditions."
However, the Palestinian official - whose responsibilities include implementing the understandings reached between the Lebanese government and President Mahmoud Abbas during the latter's visit to Beirut in July - faces two challenging tasks: creating a unified Palestinian delegation for the talks with the Lebanese and reaching an agreement with the Lebanese regarding Palestinian arms outside refugee camps.
Following Abbas' visit to Beirut, the Lebanese authorities promised to increase the number of professions in which refugees can be employed, in addition to an easing of restrictions on movements in the refugee camps and residential construction permits.
A failure in any of these two tasks might jeopardize the implementation of the understandings since many Palestinian refugees claim that the promises did not go beyond the declarative stage, pointing to the continuing restrictions on movements and construction permits.Ads by GoooooogleZaki refrained from answering whether he discussed with Siniora Palestinians' weapons inside and outside Palestinian refugee camps, saying: "We discussed all subjects thoroughly in a way that preserves Lebanon's interest and that of the Arab cause.""We trust the Lebanese government, the Lebanese people and the Lebanese Army and I believe international pressure on the Lebanese
will not affect the Palestinian cause which is a primary one for the Lebanese officials," said Zaki. "Palestinian refugees are guests in Lebanon and under the country's law."
He added that he hoped they will be able to return to Palestine soon.But Zaki said it is still "premature" to speak about transporting militants or refugees to the Gaza Strip, even after the Palestinian authorities control the Rafah crossing, noting that "such declarations cannot be implemented specifically after Israel has transformed Gaza into one bigprison."
According to Zaki, the unified Palestinian delegation, including members in the Palestine Liberation Organization and an alliance of Palestinian factions, will soon be formed."We have crossed over 60 percent of the discussions. There is a change in the attitude of both Palestinian and Lebanese parties and more determination to sort things out," he said. "We are currently organizing our internal structure and holding talks with all factions. Ibelieve we will reach an agreement, but if there is a dispute among these factions, it will not occur in Lebanon."Zaki also reassured Palestinian refugees that their conditions will be improved and "that arms will not be used against any Palestinian inside or outside the camps and past tragedies will not be repeated."Zaki later toured the refugee camps and met with leaders of different factions. He is scheduled to meet with President Emile Lahoud and Speaker Nabih Berri.
