Lebanon rejects AL resolution on Syria- Lebanese Ministers

Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat- Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansur announced after voting against the Arab foreign ministers’ resolution on suspending the Syrian Government’s Arab League membership that, “Lebanon cannot agree to such a resolution, especially withdrawing the Arab ambassadors from Damascus and imposing economic and political sanction on Syria.”

The Lebanese Foreign Minister said that he considers the suspending the Syrian delegations at the meetings of the Arab League and all its institutions as a grave indicator. He stresses that, “After seeing the draft resolution, our stance has been clear.”

Within the same context, Lebanese Culture Minister Gaby Leon, who is affiliated to Awn bloc, considers: “Lebanon’s stance has been the best at the Arab League meeting.” Leon considers: “The call for steering away from violence, and not to get involved in killing operations should be demanded not only from the regime, but also from the foreign armed men and financiers.”

With regard to the way Lebanon will deal with this resolution, especially with the article related to withdrawing the Lebanese ambassador to Syria, Leon answers: “Our stance as a bloc, before it is our stance as a government, stresses the need to keep the Syrian ambassador, and hence not to implement this resolution. This is particularly true as we have exerted a great deal of effort to reach that level of diplomatic and political relations with Syria, and the current situation is not suitable for adopting a resolution like this.”

The Culture Minister added that, “Starting from our convictions as a political group, we cannot take any side other than that of the aspirations of the people to more democracy, freedom, and justice; however, what we see today in Syria of attack on the regime using weapons, in addition to the foreign involvement makes us reject the resolution of the Arab League, which we cannot describe as an honourable resolution in the same way we described its resolution related to Palestine’s joining of the UNESCO.”

Leon asked, “This resolution makes us wonder: Is it an Arab conclusion, or is it in acquiescence to a western wish?”

However, Lebanese Minister of State Ahmad Karami, who is affiliated to the prime minister, considers that the most important thing in the Syrian issue is that the regime should start implementing the reforms, and stop the bloodshed. Karami has said to Asharq Al-Awsat: “My personal opinion is that I consider that it is difficult for Lebanon to implement the resolution to withdraw the ambassadors because of the nature of the relations binding the two countries.”

With regard to Arab League secretary general contacting the international organizations if the violence does not cease in Syria, Karami considers: “This step will lead to the internationalization of the Syrian issue and to the deterioration of the situation in general, which will have negative effects on Lebanon.”

With regard to the other articles of the resolution, Mansur considers: “Article 2 is dangerous, because it opens the field for foreign interference in Syria, as if the killing does not stop, the Arab League secretary general can contact the western organizations and countries, including the United Nations.” Mansur wonders: “Is it possible within three days to gather the Syrian opposition and have them agree a common decision and a vision of the future?”

Mansur considers: “These resolutions are neither in the interest of Syria nor of the region, and they will open the field for any action whatsoever. These resolutions have not taken into consideration the measures adopted by Syria that will lead to consequences in the near future.”