Special report: Israel, Lebanon agree on ceasefire     

Spain's King Juan Carlos talks with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan during a meeting at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    ANKARA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Visiting United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said here on Wednesday that withdrawal of Israeli forces is crucial for success of peace-keeping mission in Lebanon.

    Annan made the remarks at a joint news conference following his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkish capital Ankara, saying Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon is crucial to the deployment of the 15,000 peacekeepers the UN wants to send to monitor the cease-fire alongside Lebanese troops.

    In the news conference, Annan renewed a call for a "crucial" Israeli troop pullout from Lebanon and a prompt lift of blockade.

    "I'm still hopeful that the (Israeli) air, land and sea blockade will be lifted within the next 36 to 48 hours," he said.

    He also urged Hezbollah to disarm, saying "there has to be a national consensus among the Lebanese to disarm. The remaining ones (militias) should disarm and devote themselves to political activities."

    On July 12, Israel imposed blockage and launched massive military offensive against Lebanon after Lebanese Hezbollah guerillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others in cross-border attacks.

    Although the 34-day-long fighting between the two sides came to a cease-fire on Aug. 14 thanks to the UN Resolution 1701, Israel has vowed to maintain its blockage until a UN peacekeeping force takes control of south Lebanon to guarantee the safety of the Jewish state.

    Erdogan echoed the UN chief's call, noting that Lebanon urgently asked for humanitarian aid and the international community's assistance in its rebuilding process.

"The blockade imposed on Lebanon should be lifted as soon as possible, so the sovereignty can be restored, economy improved and humanitarian relief programs organized," Erdogan said.

However, Israeli officials said on Wednesday that they would not take any risks.

    "Israel will continue to implement the blockade as long as we feel the threat of arms smuggling and rearming Hezbollah exists," Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said shortly after Annan said he hoped the blockade would be lifted.

    At the press conference Annan also praised Turkey's decision to join the expanded U.N. force, saying such contributions were "a sign of international solidarity."

    Annan arrived in Turkey on Tuesday, when Turkey's parliament endorsed the government's motion authorizing the deployment of peacekeeping troops to Lebanon, thus making Turkey the first Muslim nation with diplomatic ties with Israel to pledge troops for the force.

    Turkey is the last stop of the UN chief's Middle East tour aimed at strengthening the truce between Israel and Hezbollah, which had also taken him to Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Enditem