A Road Map for Syria”s Comeback to Lebanon

Syria has not “cashed the price it wants for facilitating the presidential election” in Lebanon and it appears that no one is willing to pay such a price, an-Nahar”s Emile Khoury wrote Monday.

 

Syria, he wrote, is offering its Lebanese opponents two options, either veto powers for its allies in forthcoming governments or early parliamentary elections.

 

The full-package “price” that Syria wants for instructing its allies to facilitate the presidential election is an eight-point list that includes:

 

A comprehensive reconciliation with Saudi Arabia, convening the forthcoming Arab Summit conference in Damascus, Lebanon”s ruling structures should be accepted by Syria, including the formation of a government in which its allies have veto powers.

 

The list also stresses that the charge sheet in the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes should not include any charges against the Syrian Regime or its senior officials.

 

Arab states should support Iran in its nuclear crisis with the international community.

 

Hizbullah should maintain its weapons for as long as thorough peace has not been achieved with Israel.

 

Implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and 1559 throughout “Lebanese dialogue” and the holding of early parliamentary elections.

 

Would the anti-Syrian factions be prepared to pay such a price? Khoury asked.