March 14 Students to Mouallem "turn statements into actions"
March 14-aligned youth and student organizations held a press conference at the March 14 General Secretariat and issued a statement on Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem’s visit to Lebanon on Monday and the issue of the Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons.
Mouallem had said after meeting with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman that Syria is ready to establish diplomatic relations and redraw the border with Lebanon, which the organizations called a victory for March 14 and a reply to the thousands of calls for change since 2005.
“The youth of Lebanon, its people and its institutions are asked to unite order to transform [Mouallem’s] statements into acts, especially since the Syrian regime has resorted to the policy of lies and false promises,” read a statement the groups released.
“The youth of Lebanon and its people must continue the struggle in order to achieve new victories, starting with the Syrian regime’s recognition that Lebanese detainees are in its prisons. The Syrian regime must close all illegal passageways through which terrorists and weapons are being smuggled in order to destabilize Lebanon and assassinate its leaders. Syria must commit to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and redraw the border according to UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” the statement continued.
The organizations congratulated the Lebanese people for their achievements and recalled the sacrifices they made for independence, whether during the struggle against Israel or during the Cedar Revolution.
“During our war with Israel, Syria was negotiating with it over our blood,” the statement noted.