Sleiman arrives in Berlin for talks with top officials
Aoun”s plans to visit Syria generate fresh criticism
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman arrived in Berlin on Tuesday for a two-day official visit and is expected to meet on Wednesday with German President Horst Koehler, Chancellor Angela Merkel and other senior officials. A joint news conference will be held following his meeting with Merkel.
The president headed a delegation that included Ministers Bahia Hariri, Elias Murr and Mario Aoun.
In a separate development on Tuesday, news reports said that a large delegation from MP Michel Aoun”s Reform and Change parliamentary bloc and his Free Patriotic Movement went to Syria on Tuesday to prepare for the FPM leader”s visit.
While the exact date of the visit is yet to be announced, news reports said that the visit might extend from Wednesday until Sunday.
They added that Aoun would meet with top Syrian officials, including Syrian President Bashar Assad and would also visit Christian religious sites and hold news conferences.
Aoun”s visit will be his first trip to Syria after a long period of enmity between the FPM leader and Damascus. Aoun, a former army commander, was forced into exile after being defeated by a Syrian offensive in 1990. He returned in May 2005, a month after Damascus ended 29 years of military presence, in the aftermath of former Premier Rafik Hariri”s assassination.
Sources quoted by the Central News Agency (CNA) said that Aoun would arrive in Syria Tuesday night and would start his meetings on Wednesday.
The sources added that discussions were held between Sleiman and Aoun about the latter”s visit to Syria.
A March 14 ministerial source told CNA on Tuesday that the "series of visits to Syria would likely push the relations between the two countries backward, while we are trying to push it forward."
In a related development, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said Tuesday that the Cabinet had been previously informed about commander of Lebanese Armed Forces General Jean Kahwaji”s recent visit to Syria.
Siniora said that Kahwaji had contacted him before the visit and briefed him on the issues that would be discussed.
Also Tuesday, Lebanese Forces boss Samir Geagea criticized Aoun”s visit to Syria without naming the FPM leader. "Those, who are preparing today to visit Syria, are saying that the problem with the Syrians was resolved. This is untrue," Geagea said. "Those who think that we are against the Syrians are wrong; but we do not accept to be used, occupied or frightened by anyone," he added.
Commenting on the upcoming launch of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to try suspects in the Hariri killing, Geagea said: "The Special Tribunal is now a reality. Some think it is for Rafik Hariri and this is not true, because it will serve the entire country. It will highlight a part of our history."
In a speech delivered on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Free Lebanon radio station, Geagea said: "If the time will show that Syria is not responsible for political assassinations that occurred in Lebanon, then I will be the first to apologize."
In a separate development, Hizbullah”s number two Sheikh Naim Qassem said that "opposition forces" and Hizbullah were determined to hold the parliamentary elections on time.
"We, as opposition and Hizbullah, insist on holding the parliamentary elections on time without delays and will exert all efforts to establish a good atmosphere for these elections," he said Tuesday.
Qassem added the opposition”s electoral program would be based on "establishing Lebanon as a resistant state, which means building a strong state that can consolidate the rule of law and face the Israeli threats and terrorism."
"Our program is not based on confessional fanaticism and not on divisions," he added.
Qassem hailed Sleiman”s efforts to "restore natural relations with Syria and open the door for the establishment of excellent relations with the sisterly country, in line with the Taif Accord." He also praised Aoun, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, and Kahwaji for mending ties with Syria.
He added that Aoun, "through his performance and positions, became the number one representative of the Christians in Lebanon."
Also Tuesday, British Minister of State for Middle Eastern Affairs Bill Rammell visited Siniora and Speaker Nabih Berri.
In remarks following his meeting with Berri, Rammell said: "We are encouraged at the normalization of relations between Syria and Lebanon."
He added that pending issues needed to be addressed, including the issue of the Shebaa Farms and the smuggling of weapons across the borders.
Rammell also telephoned Geagea and briefed him on the developments regarding the British-Syrian talks, according to a statement issued by Geagea”s press office.
On the security front, Baroud presided over a meeting of the Central Security Council on Tuesday, in which discussions focused on the security situation in the country.
The meeting was attended by top security officials, including Internal Security Forces Director Major General General Ashraf Rifi and General Security Forces Director Major General Wafik Jezzini.
A statement issued afterward said more efforts will be made to remove political posters in the capital and other areas.