Assad Acknowledges Making Mistakes in Relation with Lebanon
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad acknowledged making mistakes in Syrian-Lebanese relations.
He also acknowledged that the "level of investment as well as economic and social relations between Lebanon and Syria was weak."
"Dealing with certain sects in the past made Syria deprived of part of the Lebanese people due to sectarian interests," Assad told a group of thinkers and researchers from Lebanon and Syria.
He said that Syrian relations with Hizbullah, however, are based on Damascus” support for the resistance.
Assad called on the Lebanese to change their sectarian system, adding that "those who have the upper hand in the political game are sectarian."
The Syrian president also touched on the issue of border demarcation, saying that he had contacted U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and informed him that the "U.N. has nothing to do with the issue. He (Ban) agreed."
On the issue of Lebanese men in Syrian jails, Assad said: "Out of the list of 800, we only have 15 detainees who have been arrested on charges of collaborating with Israel."