U.S., Saudi Rapprochement with Syria Does Not Mean Return of Syrian Tutelage
A U.S. and Saudi policy of openness toward Syria does "not mean a return of Syrian influence to Lebanon," March 14″s official Fares Soaid said Wednesday.
"The Syrian-Saudi rapprochement is tied to a formula aimed at ending Syria”s isolation in the Arab world in return for Damascus” severing of its relation with Tehran," the coordinator of March 14″s general secretariat told AFP in an interview.
He accused "some Lebanese sides of trying to bring back the Syrian control to Lebanon by acting as spokespersons for Syria."
"Syria is trying to take more, in its own way, and proposed hosting a Lebanese-Lebanese conference to give the impression of looking after Lebanon”s best interest," he said.
He saw no need for an "inter-Lebanese reconciliation under Syria”s auspices." There was a need, however, for a "correction of Lebanese-Syrian ties based on a clear rule: the maximum degree of cooperation and coordination in return for the maximum degree of respect for sovereignty and independence."