Middle East Peace and Lebanon Reconstruction

After recently forming his third government in four years, Prime Minister Hariri spoke about the parallel courses of a lasting peace in the Middle East and the reconstruction of Lebanese economy and society. He emphasized that the Lebanese economy is growing steadily, but that a lasting peace is the only true solution to the nation's problems, especially its security problems. During the question session, he stated that Syrian troops have been a stabilizing influence while Israeli troops in southern Lebanon should be removed as soon as possible.