Geagea’s Egypt Visit Was an Exceptional Success
Ex- Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis described Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s first visit to Egypt as “exceptional, very successful and meaningful.”
Sarkis, who accompanied Geagea on his visit to Cairo, told NOW Lebanon in an exclusive interview that discussions between Geagea and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak “didn’t tackle domestic Lebanese topics such as the upcoming elections and the expected alliances,” but Geagea and Mubarak did discuss “the Syrian military deployment on the northern borders, the Shebaa farms issue, and terrorism, among other issues.”
Sarkis said the Egyptian’s interpretation of the Syrian deployment along the Lebanese borders was similar to the viewpoint of the Lebanese Forces.
The Lebanese Forces have said the Syrian military deployment is meant to intimidate Lebanese citizens in the Northern regions, and is not a measure to prevent smuggling, as the Syrian regime claims. If the deployment was intended to stem smuggling, if would have not been limited to the northern border, according to the Lebanese Forces.
Sarkis said Egyptian officials assured Lebanese Forces representatives that the Syrians have no intention to enter Lebanon again.
Egyptian officials also informed the Lebanese forces delegation that Egypt can exert no pressure on Damascus to demarcate the borders with Lebanon, because bilateral relations between Egypt and Syria “are not stable.”
However, “the Egyptians could exert pressure on Israel via US diplomatic channels to withdraw its forces from the Lebanese section of the Shebaa farms, so that the UNSCR 425 can be applied,” Sarkis said. UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 425, passed after Israel’s 1978 invasion of Lebanon, demanded that Israel withdraw from all Lebanese territory unconditionally.
Sarkis said that Geagea has confirmed to the Egyptian officials that Northern Lebanon is not a terrorism haven.
He also revealed that the Egyptian visit was the first leg in Geagea’s Arabian tour that will include many countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.