Reassurances from countries importing goods into Lebanon that there would be no arm shipments in those trade relations. It's all very hopeful.
Annan Ends Mideast Trip With 2 Successes
http://www.forbes.com/business/healthcare/feeds/ap/2006/09/06/ap2998400.html
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan wrapped up a trip to the Middle East Wednesday with two notable successes: winning Israel's agreement to lift its blockade of war-ravaged Lebanon and securing a commitment for Turkish troops to join the U.N. peacekeeping force there.
Just hours after Annan called for the lifting of a sea and air blockade, Israel said it would end it Thursday evening. International forces will replace the Israelis at command positions over Lebanese seaports and airports. Israel said the blockade was necessary to prevent arms shipments to Hezbollah guerrillas.
Annan - on the tail end of 11-day trip to the region - also renewed a call for an Israeli troop pullout from Lebanon, calling it "crucial" to peacekeeping.
The U.N. chief also urged Hezbollah militants based in southern Lebanon to disarm. The U.N. had 2,000 peacekeepers in Lebanon but is starting to send thousands more into the region to monitor a tenuous truce between Israel and Hezbollah after 34 days of fighting.
"When 5,000 international troops are on the ground ... we will have a credible force and it will be time for Israel to withdraw completely," Annan said.
The U.N. force will eventually number 15,000 who will monitor the truce along with 15,000 Lebanese army troops.
Annan arrived in Turkey Tuesday - hours before its parliament voted to send troops to Lebanon, becoming the first Muslim country with diplomatic relations to Israel to join the U.N. peacekeeping force.
Arab states to push Mideast peace plan
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1154526017180&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Arab foreign ministers met Wednesday to promote a plan to revive the deadlocked Middle East peace process amid widespread Arab fears the recent war in Lebanon helped boost the influence of Iran and the militants it supports.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the 22-nation body will discuss a plan to request a ministerial meeting by the UN Security Council to advance efforts to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict, through direct talks among Israel, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians.
Bahrain's foreign minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, who chaired Wednesday's meeting in Cairo, said in an opening speech that "a credible and real effort" is needed to put the peace process back on track.
