International Response

Greece urges Israel, Lebanon to exercise restraint

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-14 15:33

ATHENS, July 13 -- Greece on Thursday expressed its great concern over the worsening situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, urging all sides to display cool-headedness, self-restraint and responsibility.

Alternate Government Spokesman Evangelos Antonaros calls on the government of Israel "to refrain from the use of excessive and purposeless violence, which cannot comprise a solution to the problem." Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman George Koumoutsakos said that there are currently 2,500 Greeks living in Lebanon that were listed in the consulate registers.

He said that an exit route via Syria for all foreign nations in Lebanon who wished to leave the country remained open.