I was Among the 1st Supporters of Hariri”s Visit to Syria but the Wound is Deep
Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel described Premier Saad Hariri”s visit to Damascus as "natural" saying it was part of efforts to normalize ties with Syria despite the "deep wound."
Gemayel told An Nahar daily in remarks published on Sunday that he was among the first to support Hariri”s visit to Syria to solve all the lingering problems between the two countries.
"The wound is deep and it takes a lot of effort and a big sacrifice to heal it" in order to achieve what”s best for the nation, the former president said.
He added, however, that the Assad-Hariri meeting won”t produce any results if all Lebanese didn”t join hands to improve ties between the two countries.
Hariri loyalist and former lawmaker Mustafa Alloush also said the visit by Hariri was "very difficult on the personal level" and involves "great sacrifice."
"But as prime minister of Lebanon, it is quite normal to have such a visit. … It is necessary and there is a need to settle all aspects of the relationship," Alloush told The Associated Press.
He said the visit did not mean some in Lebanon had dropped their belief that Syria was responsible for the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
"But this matter is up to the international tribunal now; it is no longer a personal issue," Alloush said.