Naharnet

Mansour Complains to U.N. Chief over Israeli Spying, Awaits Response on Repatriating Majed's Body

Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour revealed on Wednesday that he had sent to United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon a complaint over Israel's spying activities.

“We also prepared a CD that includes information on the procedures taken and the spying devices planted on the border with the occupied Palestinian territories, which is a clear violation of international law and a continuous attack on Lebanon, the Lebanese people and the country's security military and civil institutions,” Mansour detailed.

"The continuous Israeli attack is a violation of the international law and of international resolutions that are linked with U.N. Security Council resolution 1701,” he added.

The caretaker FM also sent letters over the same matter to the representatives of the 15 non-permanent members at the U.N. Security Council, Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Israel installed in November 2013 spying stations along its border with Lebanon, starting from al-Naqoura passing by Khayyam all the way to Sheba, in addition to Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh).

The espionage station includes advanced equipment that enable Israel to monitor Hasbaya, Arqoub, Rashaya, the Bekaa and several areas in eastern Lebanon mountain range.

The biggest espionage station is allegedly erected in al-Abbad and Jan al-Alam areas, which are located near the U.N. demarcated Blue line.

Israel's recent installation of espionage stations along its border with Lebanon angered several politicians as the parliamentary telecommunications committee vowed to confront the matter.

In a separate matter, Mansour announced that a Saudi memo was sent to the Ministry of Justice concerning Saudi Arabia's demand to be handed over the body of the “emir” of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, Majed al-Majed.

"We haven't received a response yet and when the Ministry of Justice gives us an answer, we will inform KSA's embassy in Lebanon about it,” he said.

The army announced on Saturday the death of al-Majed, who is a Saudi national, after the deterioration of his health.

The Army Command said in a statement that he died while he was being treated at the central military hospital.

Majed is the suspected head of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, which claimed responsibility for the November 19 attack against the Iranian embassy in Beirut, killing 25 people.

On the upcoming Geneva II conference, Mansour said the political affairs directors for the foreign ministry will represent Lebanon in the international talks.

Mansour received on Tuesday an invitation from Ban Ki-moon to attend the Geneva II summit on January 22.

The multinational opening session will be held in Montreux, a city northeast of Geneva, and the talks aim at helping the feuding Syrian groups to put an end to the ongoing violence in the neighboring country through agreeing on a political solution that safeguards Syria's independence and sovereignty.


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