| AMERICAN LEBANESE COORDINATION COUNCIL |
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Rice Takes Uncompromising Stance that Syria Must Leave Lebanon
Incoming U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has taken an uncompromising stance about the termination of Syria's dominance of Lebanon,
asserting to Congress that U.N. Resolution 1559 "tells the Syrians that the world expects them to begin withdrawing their forces from Lebanon and
to halt terrorism from there."
"Lebanon can be a stronghold of democracy in the Middle East and that's why we have to take interest in what happens in Lebanon," Rice said,
answering questions at a meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held to confirm her as Colin Powell's successor once Bush's
second term in the White House begins on Thursday.
Rice described Syria as a "non-constructive force" and said the Assad regime was "risking long-range strained relations" with the United States,
hinting that added sanctions would be clamped against Syria. An Nahar highlighted Rice's remark on Lebanon on page-one on Wednesday.
She said Security Council Resolution 1559 which was co-sponsored by the United States and France was a "very important accomplishment. It
tells the Syrians that the world expects them to respect Lebanon's legitimate sovereignty and begin withdrawing their forces and halt terrorism
from there."
Incoming U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has taken an uncompromising stance about the termination of Syria's dominance of Lebanon,
asserting to Congress that U.N. Resolution 1559 "tells the Syrians that the world expects them to begin withdrawing their forces from Lebanon and
to halt terrorism from there."
"Lebanon can be a stronghold of democracy in the Middle East and that's why we have to take interest in what happens in Lebanon," Rice said,
answering questions at a meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held to confirm her as Colin Powell's successor once Bush's
second term in the White House begins on Thursday.
Rice described Syria as a "non-constructive force" and said the Assad regime was "risking long-range strained relations" with the United States,
hinting that added sanctions would be clamped against Syria. An Nahar highlighted Rice's remark on Lebanon on page-one on Wednesday.
She said Security Council Resolution 1559 which was co-sponsored by the United States and France was a "very important accomplishment. It
tells the Syrians that the world expects them to respect Lebanon's legitimate sovereignty and begin withdrawing their forces and halt terrorism
from there."