Majority Informed of Content of Saudi-Syrian Agreement, Fears Implementation Restrictions
Information obtained by Naharnet said the majority March 14 coalition has been notified of details of the Syrian-Saudi summit on Lebanon and that PM-designate Saad Hariri has discussed these points during a meeting with March 14 leaders.
The meeting was attended by Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel as well as Mustaqbal Movement officials and members of the March 14 Secretariat General.
According to the information made available to Naharnet, the Syrian-Saudi agreement provides the following:
1- Facilitation of Cabinet formation and the intervention of both sides with their allies in Lebanon in order to offer reciprocal compromises that would bring about a new government.
2- Normalization of Syrian-Lebanon ties.
3- Dealing with the issue of Palestinian weapons outside refugee camps.
4- Demarcation of the Lebanon-Syria border.
The conferees assessed the implications of this agreement on the Lebanon situation in general and particularly on the March 14 alliance.
The major viewpoints emerging from that discussion included fears that implementation of the agreement would be restricted to the first two items only such as a government would be formed after concessions have been made by the majority and normalization of ties would take place during Hariri”s anticipated visit to Damascus without implementation of the last two clauses which lack operational mechanism in light of the Syrian-Lebanese dispute.
The second viewpoint has stressed the importance for March 14 forces to face up to upcoming events from within and not outside the government.
The conferees agreed to support Hariri in his bid to improve conditions for the implementation of the Syrian-Saudi agreement.