Ahmadinejad Praises Lebanon for 'Resistance' to Israel
VOA News 13 October 2010
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad praised Lebanon for what he called its "resistance" to Israel after thousands of Lebanese lined the streets of Beirut to welcome his arrival Wednesday.
During a news conference with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Mr. Ahmadinejad also called for an end to what he characterized as Israel's "occupation" of Lebanese and Palestinian lands.
Mr. Ahmadinejad commented at the start of a two-day visit to Lebanon that marks his first trip to the country since taking office in 2005. He is due to meet with other Lebanese leaders and show support for the militant group Hezbollah, a key Iranian ally.
During the news conference, Mr. Suleiman called for strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries. Iran is a major donor country to Lebanon and is expected to invest $450 million into Lebanon's energy and water sectors.
The Iranian president has called frequently for Israel's destruction. Israel accuses the Iranian government of trying to develop nuclear weapons and views a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.
Mr. Ahmadinejad is expected to appear at a Hezbollah rally later Wednesday in southern Beirut, where the Iranian-backed group has its stronghold.
Some members of Lebanon's pro-Western parliamentary majority have criticized Mr. Ahmadinejad's support of Hezbollah and accused him of portraying Lebanon as "an Iranian base on the Mediterranean."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she rejects any efforts to destabilize Lebanon. In comments Wednesday, she also said the U.S. hopes that no visitor to the country will do or say anything that will increase tensions.
On Thursday, Mr. Ahmadinejad tours southern Lebanon, where he will inspect villages damaged in Hezbollah's 2006 war with Israel. He is expected to visit a border area where Hezbollah supporters throw stones toward the Israeli side.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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