March 14 Snaps Back at Assad, Says Syrian President Keeps Interfering in Lebanon”s Internal Affairs
The ruling March 14 coalition has slammed Syrian President Bashar Assad, saying he is interfering in Lebanon”s internal affairs and not recognizing the country”s sovereignty.
Assad”s request from Suleiman "for sending Lebanese army units to the north is interference in Lebanese internal affairs and results from non-recognition of Lebanon”s sovereignty and independence," the March 14 forces said in a statement Thursday night.
Such an advice is also "an insult to the Lebanese president," the March 14 leaders said after a late night meeting in Qoreitem.
Assad said during a press conference in Damascus Thursday that he had told President Michel Suleiman during the latter”s visit to Damascus that the Lebanese head of state should send more army units to northern Lebanon to stop the clashes between Sunnis and Alawites in Tripoli and some villages of the Akkar Province.
Assad also said during the quadripartite summit in Damascus that the situation in Lebanon remains fragile because certain states back fundamentalism.
He said he discussed with Suleiman last month the need for Lebanon to "take part in negotiations with Israel, but only when we reach the stage of direct negotiations."
"The Syrian president”s invitation for entering into talks with Israel, is part of the same rejected meddling in Lebanon”s internal affairs and a disregard for the Taef agreement which clearly states that Lebanon is committed to the armistice accord with Israel," the March 14 statement said.
Assad”s comments are "totally rejected. Only Lebanon”s political leadership decides on Lebanese national interest," it said.
"Lebanon will be the last Arab country to sign a settlement agreement with Israel after reclaiming all Arab rights," the March 14 leaders stressed.
They also rejected all attempts to silence Lebanon”s free press and criticized pressure on the French-Language newspaper L”Orient Le Jour.
Earlier Thursday, the March 14 coalition accused Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun of attacking media outlets in a bid to "cover up" for the helicopter shooting attack that killed Capt. Samer Hanna.
It was responding to remarks made by Aoun on Wednesday in which he said the Sujud attack on the army helicopter should not reflect on the resistance and the defense strategy.
Aoun also called for suing L”Orient Le Jour for its headline on the Sujud attack, which had said it was a premeditated action by Hizbullah.