President Kufuor appeals for more support to peace in the Middle East

Accra, Sept.9, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday appealed for more support to the efforts by the US in the implementation of the road map to peace in the Middle East.

He said more support was needed towards peace in the area in order that Lebanon was in the past acclaimed the "Switzerland of the Middle East" could take its place in the socio-economic development of the area. President Kufuor made the appeal when Mr Charbel Aoun, out-going Lebanese Ambassador in Ghana paid a farewell call on him at the Castle, Osu after four years duty tour.

He said, "it is our wish that the efforts by the US to implement the road map to peace in the Middle East is supported by other developed countries to restore peace to the area and for Lebanon to resume its position as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" because of the Lebanese acumen for business activities".

President Kufuor referred to the major role played by Ghana in the political and military assistance to maintain peace in Lebanon, adding, "we are proud to contribute to restore peace in the area, the level of discipline of our armed forces had culminated in two Ghanaians being appointed United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commanders". They were General Emmanuel A. Erskine and Lieutenant-General Seth Obeng, the Chief of Defence Stafff (CDS).

President Kufuor said the relationship between Ghana and Lebanon as well as peoples from both countries had been in existence even before Ghana's independence and Lebanese were actively involved in many industrial, trading and agricultural activities.

He said the economic co-operation between both countries could be lifted to a higher level through joint ventures among the people. President Kufuor, however, appealed to the out-going Lebanese Ambassador to advocate for humane treatment to Ghanaians living in Lebanon because most Ghanaians had been maltreated.

Mr Aoun said although there had not been any financial assistance to Ghana by Lebanon through grants or loans, there had been tremendous co-operation in the economic and social life of people from both countries.

He expressed appreciation to Ghana in the efforts to restore peace in Lebanon as one of the first countries to send troops to the area and continued to provide troops and through their capabilities two UNIFIL Commanders emerged.

Mr Aoun said although efforts were made in the past to ensure Ghanaians living in Lebanon were treated in a more humanely and he pledged to assist to investigate the maltreatment of Ghanaians in Lebanon to enable them to live in peace with their hosts.