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| 21/05/2008 Three years on the outbreak of a crisis that seemed to be perpetual, Lebanese leaders were able to reach an agreement that came to crown five days of national dialogue held in the Qatari capital Doha. The agreement was welcomed by different countries.
SYRIA BACKS AGREEMENT: STABILITY IN LEBANON IS VITAL
Indeed, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said from the Bahraini capital Manamah that Damascus backs the agreement reached between Lebanese leaders in Qatar. "The agreement will put an end to the political crisis in Lebanon," Moallem said.
"We praise the Arab Committee for its effort and we stress the importance of the agreement. Syria supports everything that the Lebanese agree on because security and stability in Lebanon is vital and important to Syria's security and stability," he added.
SAUDI ARABIA SUPPORTS AGREEMENT
For his part, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aziz Khoja said that Riyadh supports the agreement reached between rival leaders. "We are very happy that this accord has been reached," he added.
IRAN WELCOMES, PLEASED ABOUT AGREEMENT
Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Rida Shibani also announced his country's support for the Doha agreement.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohamad Ali Hosseini congratulated all Lebanese groups, regional countries and the Arab League, and especially the Qatari government for reaching the agreement.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran hopes that the Doha accord ... will provide a blossoming and brilliant future for the Lebanese people and be the prelude to freeing the rest of Lebanese territory" from Israeli occupation, the ISNA news agency quoted Hosseini as saying.
EGYPT URGES 'FAITHFUL' IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT
For his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit hailed Wednesday's deal to end the long-running crisis in Lebanon and called for the accord to be faithfully implemented.
"The agreement ends a complicated crisis which could have destroyed Lebanon's stability had it not been for the wisdom of certain Lebanese politicians and the rapid Arab intervention," he said.
US WELCOMES AGREEMENT AS POSITIVE STEP
The United States welcomed Wednesday's accord between Lebanese leaders as a positive step, a
State Department official said.
"That this agreement has been reached in Doha is really a welcome development," David Welch, deputy secretary for Near Eastern affairs, told reporters. "It is a necessary and positive step toward accomplishing what the Arab League's initiative on Lebanon was designed to do," electing a president of Lebanon, forming a new government and revising the electoral law, he said.
FRANCE HAILS AGREEMENT AS GREAT SUCCESS FOR LEBANON
Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the agreement as "a great success for Lebanon and the Lebanese, who have never lacked courage and patience despite the trials they have been been through," calling for it to be "fully implemented."
In a statement, Sarkozy paid tribute to the "decisive role" played by Qatar and Arab League Secretary Genereal Amr Mussa. "France, which has invested much effort in the search for a solution to the Lebanese crisis, never stopped backing the process that led to this agreement," Sarkozy said.
Earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner hailed the deal as an "essential step" to returning the Middle East nation to "unity, stability and independence", calling on "all Lebanese" to strive for national reconciliation.
The French minister, who had traveled to Lebanon seven times since taking office last year, said he was "personally very happy about this outcome for which I have worked continuously."
GERMANY CALLS FOR SWIFT ELECTION OF LEBANON PRESIDENT
Germany, in its turn, welcomed the agreement and called for the swift election of a new Lebanese president. Wednesday's accord between Lebanese leaders clears "the way for an end to the political crisis," foreign ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger told a news conference.
"We hope to see quickly the election of (army chief Michel) Suleiman to the post of president and the putting in place of a new government," Jaeger said.
SPAIN WELCOMES 'IMPORTANT' LEBANON AGREEMENT
Spain also welcomed on Wednesday the "important" agreement clinched in Doha aimed at ending the18-month crisis in Lebanon.
"The goverment of Spain sends its warmest congratulations to the Lebanese political forces for the agreement reached in Doha to elect the consensus candidate, General Michel Sleiman, as president," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Spain, which along with France and Italy, contributed to the mediation efforts, trusts that the Lebanese people will be able to take advantage of the opportunities opened up by this important agreement and by the peace prospects that are opening up in the Middle East," it added. | 
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