U.S. envoy: diplomatic solution with Syria not contradicts support for Lebanon

BEIRUT, March 8 -- U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman said here Sunday that there is no contradiction between supporting Lebanon and reaching diplomatic solutions with Syria, local Elnashra website reported.

"Talking to others is not a gift, but aims at finding answers and solutions," Feltman said after meeting Lebanese Forces (LF) party leader Samir Geagea at his headquarters on Sunday afternoon.

Asked about Britain's decision to engage in direct talks with the political wing of Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah, Feltman said the American stands towards Hezbollah did not change.

The United States does not see any difference between Hezbollah political wing and its military wing, said Feltman.

Hezbollah is listed on the U.S. terrorist list, while Britain placed the party's military wing on its blacklist in June 2007.

Feltman, accompanied by fellow envoy Daniel Shapiro, returned on Sunday morning to Beirut from Damascus where they talked with Syrian officials for the first time since four years of U.S. boycott of the regime which was accused of killing former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. Syria denied any involvement.