Mashnouq: A Trip to Syria by Hariri Aims to Address Pending Issues, Riyadh-Cairo Ties Not at Risk
A visit to Syria by Premier-designate Saad Hariri will take place in "due time" and will aim to resolve pending issues between the two countries not to advance his personal ties with Damascus, al-Mustaqbal Movement official Nuhad al-Mashnouq said Sunday.
In an interview with LBC, Mashnouq also said that Saudi Arabia”s push to improve Lebanese-Syrian ties will not affect Riyadh”s relations with Cairo.
"Hariri”s visit will only take place in due time, meaning it will be paid by the head of the executive authority, in his constitutional and official capacity and as a representative of all the Lebanese," Mashnouq said.
Mashnouq said Hariri was "required" as prime minister to "sponsor Syrian-Lebanese relations as ones between two free and independent states." He added that stability in Lebanon "can only be achieved after the establishment of normal ties between the two countries."
The aim behind Hariri”s anticipated visit to Syria is "not to open a new page on a personal level but to resolve pending causes between the two countries," including border demarcation, he said.
Any personal rapprochement with Syria will only take place after the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issues its indictment ruling in the 2005 murder of ex-premier Rafik Hariri, Mashnouq added.
He said recent Saudi-Syrian contacts aim to "place ties between Lebanon and Syria on the right track, and will not affect Riyadh”s solid and deep ties with Cairo."
"Any Saudi-Syria agreement cannot take shape in isolation of Egypt," Mashnouq added.
"Syria will not risk the positive outcome of rapprochement with its Arab neighbors by refusing to improve ties with Lebanon, especially after it proved that it did not interfere in (June 7) polls," he said.
On MP Walid Jumblat”s improving ties with the opposition, Mashnouq insisted the Druze leader "had no intention to quit March 14. He simply has a desire to advance political ties on the domestic and external fronts."
On Hizbullah, Mashnouq said both Saudi Arabia and Hariri were "keen to reassure the party that it is part of the state and that it had no reason to fear for its weapons arsenal within the state, especially in light of (the unrest) in Iran and U.S.-Syrian dialogue."