Syria Criticizes Ban for Interfering in Lebanese-Syrian Relations
Syria has sent a letter to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon criticizing him for interfering in Lebanese-Syrian ties in his last report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701, al-Akhbar daily reported Saturday.
"We were surprised by the introduction of Syria”s name in the current report by the secretary-general and his special coordinator for Lebanon (Michael Williams)," the letter, which was delivered by Syrian permanent representative to the U.N. Bashar al-Jaafari, said.
"Syria has nothing to do with the resolution (1701). Lebanon and Israel are the sides involved in its implementation," according to the letter, which was distributed to Security Council members on Friday.
The document gave an overview on developments in Lebanese-Syrian ties and exchange of ambassadors, urging "others not to interfere in the path of these relations and their development because it (meddling) harms such accomplishments."
Syria stressed it will continue to back Lebanon”s sovereignty and regional security, including the national dialogue among Lebanese politicians.
The letter also said that bilateral relations were not part of resolution 1701 articles and demarcation of the common border is an issue that Lebanese and Syrian authorities would alone decide on.
About Palestinian arms, the letter said that the issue is a Lebanese-Palestinian problem.
In his 10th report on implementation of resolution 1701, the U.N. chief urged Israel to withdraw from the Lebanese side of the border village of Ghajar and reiterated that Hizbullah”s armed capabilities pose a serious challenge to the government”s ability to exercise its sovereignty.
The existence of military bases belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command and to Fatah al-Intifada continues to pose a hindrance to Lebanese sovereignty, the report said.
Ban also called on the Lebanese government to dismantle the Palestinian military bases and on Syria, which has influence on these groups, to support efforts in this regard.