ANNAN EXPECTS FULL SYRIAN WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON BY MID-APRIL TO MID-MAY New York, Mar 17 2005 2:00PM United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today he expected the full withdrawal of all Syrian troops from Lebanon, including the intelligence apparatus and military assets, to take place before the Lebanese parliamentary elections scheduled for mid-April to mid-May.
In a statement issued after he was briefed by his Special Envoy for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for withdrawing all foreign forces from Lebanon, disbanding all militias and extending Government control over the whole country, Mr. Annan “stressed the great importance that these elections be free and fair and take place as scheduled.”