BEIRUT: Denmark is among  the latest countries to congratulate Lebanon on the formation of a new government Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Per Stig Moeller congratulated Lebanon on forming its Cabinet in a statement released by Denmark’s embassy in Lebanon, Friday. “It is indeed very good news, that there has at last been reached an agreement on a new national unity government in Lebanon. From Denmark we congratulate the Lebanese people on the achievement of finally forming a government, following the well executed parliamentary elections on June 7th 2009,” Moeller said. 

Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced the new Cabinet line-up on Monday after almost five months of tough negotiations with his rivals in the Hizbullah-led alliance 

“In order to continue the positive trend in Lebanon, it is essential that the new government is one of action, so as to quickly [and efficiently] tackle the challenges which Lebanon is facing,” said Moeller. “This includes economic reforms, improvement of the human-rights situation and the continued implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1701,” the Danish Foreign Minister said in reference to the UN resolution which put an end to the summer 2006 war with Israel. 

“Lebanon is a key player in securing regional stability and the formation of a new government is seen as a significant step on the way of strengthening the democratic development in Lebanon,” Moeller added. 

Also commenting on the formation of a government in Lebanon, Syrian President Bashar Assad’s political and media adviser, Bouthaina Shaaban, told Kuwait’s Kuna news agency on Friday that Syria was relieved by the formation of the national-unity Cabinet in Lebanon. 

“Syria was the first to welcome this accomplishment because we find that the formation of a national agreement and unity Cabinet in Lebanon is in the best interests of the its people and stability,” she said. 

Shaaban added that President Michel Sleiman’s visit to Damascus on Thursday and his summit with Assad aimed to strengthen relations between the two “sister states.” 

Shaaban said that it was too early to discuss a visit to Damascus by Hariri, but added that the Syrian public welcomes such a visit.

On Thursday, Hariri received a telegram of congratulations from his Syrian counterpart Mohammad Naji Otri, the first official contact between Damascus and its longtime foe. 

Hariri has had tense relations with Syria ever since his father’s car-bomb assassination  in 2005. The killing of Lebanon’s Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri prompted the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon after a 29-year presence. – The Daily Star