"Israel`s" 33-day war strengthened resistance`s status, identity

Source: IRNA, 15-5-2007
Beirut - Iran`s Ambassador to Lebanon said here Monday Zionist regime`s recent war against Lebanon aimed at annihilation of resistance not only failed in doing so, but also further strengthened its status and identity.
Sheibani made the comment at a meeting with a visiting Iranian NGO official active in women`s rights, Ashraf Boroujerdi and a number of her colleagues in Beirut.
According to IRNA reporter in Beirut, he added, "`Israel` and its allies tried to create a deep gap between the Lebanese resistance force and the people that are faithful to it through imposing heavy casualties, vast scale material losses, homelessness, and other hardships, but their move further strengthened the Lebanese people`s trust in legitimacy of resistance."
Iran`s Ambassador to Beirut meanwhile referred to the political status and ongoing crisis in Lebanon, arguing, "The Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia have so far tried to convince the Lebanese sides to observe restraint and work towards reaching consensus that could be mutually satisfactory, having somehow been successful in those respects."
Sheibani elsewhere in his remarks supported Iran`s cultural activities in Lebanon, including the functions of the Iranian NGOs, emphasizing that such efforts need to be accelerated in scientific and academic fields.
Researcher and NGO official Boroujerdi, too, said during the meeting the main objective of her accompanying group and her visit was to get informed about activities of NGOs, visit research centers related to their NGO`s activities, visit the war stricken parts of Lebanon during the 33-day "Israeli" imposed war, and seek ways for Iranian NGOs` cooperation with Lebanon.
She said that in Iran there are over 10,700 registered NGOs, some 8,000 of which are active in women`s affairs field.