U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said all issues related to the Lebanese-Israeli track must be resolved before any direct talks between Lebanon and the Jewish state.

Rice told An Nahar daily in remarks published Monday that she encouraged direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

Asked by An Nahar's correspondent in New York if Lebanon was ready to enter into direct peace talks with Israel, Rice said that the Lebanese government has to set the means to reach such an objective, meaning solving all issues related to the Lebanese-Israeli track.

She stressed the need to implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 with regards to finding a solution to the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms area and the demarcation of the border.

Rice also welcomed the launching of national dialogue among bickering politicians at the Baabda Palace after cooperation between the government and President Michel Suleiman whom she met on Thursday.

The Secretary of State told An Nahar that she hoped Lebanon would take the opportunity of improving atmospheres in the Middle East so that all parties could resolve their differences.