Giving the Lebanese security forces control over the liberated areas in south Lebanon is important and will certainly comfort the Lebanese. But asking the Syrian forces at the present time to pull out while we still need them is unacceptable, he added. Our army is present in south Lebanon but not as intensive as Israel demands. We have repeatedly said that despite the current acts of violence Israel commits now, we still hope that the Israeli government will reconsider its acts and opt for peace. Nothing is solved by force, he added.
Force only makes things worse.
If Israel wants to realize peace, it should not walk the road it is taking now because this would only destroy the peace process, he added. Asked on Lebanese Libyan relations, Hariri said we are looking forward to developing our relations with Libya and all Arab countries. On his recent talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, he termed as good the UN -Lebanese relations that he said are based on mutual respect. He added that he informed Annan of the importance of keeping in place international forces in Lebanon and enhancing their role in the future. Asked on the Lebanese government's plans to attract foreign investments, Hariri said the government's vision as regards the economic situation in Lebanon is based on an economic open door policy.