Geagea to Kouchner: Progress with Syria Not Encouraging
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said he told visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Monday that progress of relations with Syria "is not encouraging."
"We”ve informed him that what we witness is not very encouraging. The topic of diplomatic ties is very important to us," Geagea said.
"However, Syria links this topic to approval by its parliament. I”m now aware that the Syrians had waited for parliament”s approval to adopt any decision. This applies only to us," he added.
He also criticized insistence by Damascus on maintaining the Syrian-Lebanese Higher council, saying the body would "weaken diplomatic relations."
Geagea said there was no progress at all regarding other issues with Syria, such as the Shebaa Farms, Lebanese citizens missing in Syria and Palestinian bases run by "Syrian Intelligence" officers in the Bekaa Valley and the coastal town of Naameh south of Beirut.
Israeli threats to Lebanon, according to Geagea, are related to air-defense systems that Hizbullah would acquire.