Lebanese Forces Helped Facilitate Reconciliation, “Ball Now in Franjieh’s Court”
March 14 general secretariat coordinator Fares Soueid said that it was good that reconciliation in the Christian community had not yet been obstructed because “everyone has an interest in its achievement.”
Soueid told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Wednesday that the Lebanese Forces had done everything required in facilitating reconciliation, and that it was now time for Marada Movement leader Sleiman Franjieh to do the same.
“The ball is in his court now,” Soueid said.
Soueid said that President Michel Sleiman could play a “supportive role” in the reconciliation process. However, he added that it was not in the Christians or Lebanese interest to have Sleiman over-involved. Soueid said that attacking the Lebanese Forces had been one of the “major tools” used by some to maintain their popularity. He said it would not be easy to stop the attacks because those making them knew their popularity depended on them.
“Accordingly, it is within their interest to delay such reconciliation,” he said.
Soueid said that the announcement that diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria will be established was a “big accomplishment for all Lebanese and a victory for the Cedar Revolution.”
“Syria considered it a very important matter, while some Lebanese considered that it would turn the embassy into an intelligence center,” he said, “We should understand the high tone adopted by the Syrian regime concerning the diplomatic ties, since it is a kind of moral reinforcement to the regime.”
“As for those who consider that the Syrian embassy will turn into an intelligence center, this is a simplification of the matter because intelligence [services] does not need an embassy,” Soueid said. Soueid said that it was crucial to reconsider the Brotherhood and Coordination Treaty, out of which came the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council.
Soueid said that March 14 would deal with the Syrian embassy according to established norms. However, he said, this did not mean that the coalition’s lack of confidence in the Syrian regime had disappeared. He said there were still unresolved issues such as Shebaa Farms, the demarcation of the borders and missing and detained Lebanese in Syrian.
“As for the international tribunal, which is the core of the dispute with Syria, it is nonnegotiable because it became in the hands of the United Nations Security Council,” he said.
Soueid said that security coordination between Lebanon and Syria was more technical than political in nature. “As long as it is through the Lebanese security forces, there is no problem,” he said.
Asked about Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun’s visit to Tehran last week, Soueid said, “There is no Michel Aoun; there are no Christian rights outside the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions. These visits are only to instigate sectarian tension, and the Christian interest is not in deterioration… rather they must fight for the establishment of a strong, powerful state.”