Talks between the government and Palestinian factions in Lebanon get off to a qualified start, writes Ramez Masaarani The first phase of talks between Lebanese authorities and Palestinian factions ended Saturday in an agreement to carry on a dialogue over the issue of arms inside and outside Palestinian refugee camps, Palestinian diplomatic representation in the country, and living conditions for Palestinians in Lebanon. The Palestinian armed presence outside Lebanon's numerous refugee camps will likely be the most difficult issue to tackle since it involves a serious dialogue with the Syrians, accused of supporting the most radical Palestinian factions. Such a dialogue, under normal circumstances dependent on regional and international events, will succeed or fail on how the UN report on the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri presents Syria's involvement (or otherwise) in the assassination. On the other hand, talks with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) representatives in Lebanon were apparently smooth, focussing on the organisation of the armed presence of the Palestinians inside Palestinian refugee camps in coordination with the Lebanese army. In return, the Lebanese government promised to look into the civil and social rights of the Palestinians, and their rights to work and own property in Lebanon. Of all places in the Palestinian Diaspora, Lebanon is perhaps the worst, with Palestinians barred by law from around 70 professions. In addition, it is near impossible to expand any of the scores of camps Palestinians are condemned to, nor even gain permission or materials to re-build camps internally. Negotiations could also lead to the establishment of a Palestinian embassy in Lebanon, which would guarantee official Palestinian political representation in the country. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated Saturday his request to the Lebanese government to "allow a Palestinian embassy in Lebanon". A joint Palestinian-Lebanese committee to follow up the negotiations will be formed soon. According to local media, talks will resume in two weeks despite divisions among the various Palestinian factions. The meeting with Fouad Al-Siniora took place Saturday in two phases with two delegations visiting separately the prime minister, demonstrating that there are at least two Palestinian positions for the moment. The first Palestinian faction is close to the Palestinian Authority and represented by the PLO, which is the major group controlling the camps. The other made up of pro-Syrian factions, which own arms outside the camps. On the Lebanese side, there is an apparent accord among the main Lebanese political forces to refuse the bearing of weapons by Palestinians outside the camps. Premier Al-Siniora firmly and repeatedly said after the meeting that, "it is not allowed to have Palestinian arms outside the camps. And weapons within the camps should be organised." Al-Siniora also said that it was the responsibility of the Lebanese security institutions to guarantee the security of the Palestinians in Lebanon, which he referred to as "temporary guests". Positively commenting on the meeting between Al-Siniora and the Palestinians, Ahmed Jibril, secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's General Command (PFLP-GC), praised Al-Siniora for his efforts to initiate a dialogue. But neither the PFLP- GC -- accused of intensifying their military action in Lebanon in accord with Syria -- nor other pro-Syrian Palestinian factions, mainly Hamas and Jihad, expressed any willingness to withdraw from military positions outside the camps. Following their meeting with Al-Siniora, Palestinian factions said that they would not deal with the issue of Palestinian arms from "a security perspective" but that talks should be conducted on a "political level". After Syrian troops left Lebanon, Palestinians feared the Lebanese government would change its position with respect to the right of Palestinians to defend against Israeli aggression, as well as their right of return to Palestine. Tensions escalated last week when the Lebanese army tightened their grip around the camps and outside military positions in the Bekaa Valley and along the Syrian border following reports that Syrian-backed Palestinian factions were smuggling in weapons. Lebanese political forces fear that Syria might use the Palestinians to destabilise the country. On the other side, accusations have been made that the Lebanese government has started to implement UN Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of Palestinians in Lebanon. Statements by Palestinian factions and other political forces, like Hizbullah, charged the Lebanese government with "serving American interests and plans". Al-Siniora clearly indicated, however, that talks held with the Palestinians were not linked to Resolution 1559. Nonetheless, Al-Siniora, who started preparations for an international conference of donors to help Lebanon solve its many economic problems, is under pressure from the US and France to follow through on political and security reforms.
