Assad”s Style Targeted the Dignity of Lebanon”s Leaders
Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar on Saturday criticized Syrian President Bashar Assad for targeting the "dignity" of Lebanon”s president, foreign minister and government in his recent remarks on Lebanon.
Najjar, in a radio interview, said Assad”s remarks on Tripoli meant that "Syria approves a decisive approach in the north."
"Syria is concerned by Sunni terror in Tripoli and worried about the altering of the Sunni-Shiite formula in Lebanon."
He said "indications show that Syria cannot make a comeback to Lebanon."
"What testifies to this is that the Syrian President had asked the Lebanese president for a decisive role by the army in the north," Najjar said.
"This is clear recognition of the Lebanese Army”s ability to settle the situation without Syrian intervention," he added.
Najjar said that Assad, by urging Lebanon to go into negotiations with Israel, was telling his allies in Lebanon to "accept" such talks.
Najjar expressed fear that the proposed National Dialogue Conference could be postponed until after the 2009 general elections.