Arabs Called to “Deter” the Assad Regime and Salvage Lebanon
The March 14 forces on Friday urged Arab foreign ministers to take “deterrent measures” against Syrian President Bashar Assad”s regime to protect Lebanon.
A statement issued after a meeting by the majority alliance”s follow-up committee was basically addressed to Arab foreign ministers who are scheduled to meet in Cairo Sunday to consider Lebanon”s ongoing presidential crisis.
“The March 14 forces … hope that the Arab meeting would be decisive with the Syrian Regime to put an end to its interference in Lebanon and halt the policy of favoritism regarding this regime and the adoption, ultimately, of deterrent measures against it,” the statement said.
“The March 14 forces need not remind that while defending Lebanon”s entity, the state (structure) and the democratic regime of the independent state of Lebanon, they also defend Lebanon”s true Arab belonging as well as the Arabs and their central Palestine Cause in addition to Arab solidarity as a whole,” the statement added.
Lebanon, the statement noted, “has been subjected to a continuous Syrian assault since withdrawal of Syrian troops in April 2005, following the assassination of martyr Rafik Hariri.”
It accused the Assad Regime of trying to topple Premier Fouad Saniora”s majority government “through non-democratic, violent and irresponsible efforts that almost toppled civil order.”
The Syrian “assault reached a peak by blocking the election of a president for the republic of Lebanon and bringing to failure all efforts aimed at facilitating the election, the latest of which was the French initiative,” the statement added.
“The March 14 Forces plead with the Arab League congress to exert pressure to lift the Syrian Regime”s hands off and help Lebanon elect a consensus president as soon as possible, especially after the Lebanese agreed on a candidate accepted by all the factions, he is Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman,” the statement said.
It stressed: “March 14 forces are committed to his (Suleiman”s) nomination and consider his assumption of power a normal introduction to national dialogue on all issues.”