Paris Says Syria Halted Cooperation, Warns Suleiman is “Red Line”
France uncovered that Syria has halted cooperation with the international community and warned that President Michel Suleiman is a "red line."
The official stance was made by French diplomatic sources in Paris who said Suleiman was "entrusted with Lebanon”s stability and the integrity of its institutions."
"The Lebanese presidency is a red line that could not be crossed," one source said. "France will not accept in any way that Suleiman”s position be targeted, harmed or jeopardized because of parliamentary elections or outcome of the polls."
Paris said Damascus halted cooperation with the international community after having adopted "positive" measures in May 2008 that helped elect a Lebanese president, form a government, exchange diplomats as well as Syrian participation in the prevention of the arrival of al-Qaida fighters to Iraq.
"Syria, however, stopped cooperating with the international community since January (of 2009)," the source said.
"If Damascus wants to cooperate with us and maintain dialogue with the United States, it should act with moderation," he stressed.
Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections, Paris believed that if the Lebanese knew how to deal rationally with the results and act consciously, "then things will move smoothly."
"But if this team or that sought to use the victory, then we will need a second Doha conference," the source said.
That was a reference to the Doha talks of May 2008 in which Lebanese leaders agreed to end a long-running political crisis. That agreement covered the election of army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman as president, the formation of a national unity government and a ban on the use of weapons in any internal conflict.
France sent a clear message to Damascus, urging it to read results "positively" regardless of the poll outcome.
It also called on Syria to "behave well" and "realize" that what will happen in Lebanon in the post-election phase "would affect the way we are going to deal with Damascus as well as the continued U.S. openness toward it."