Adwan: We Want Best of Ties with Syria Provided it Recognizes Lebanon”s Independence

Lebanese Forces official George Adwan said “we want the best of relations with Syria provided that it recognizes Lebanon as an independent state.”

 

“Syria must accept sovereign Lebanon in return for good relations with Arabs and Lebanese,” Adwan said in a television interview late Wednesday.

 

He said that there were no signs that a president will be soon elected, stressing that dialogue among the various Lebanese political groups and resorting to the Taif Accord were the “only” solutions to the ongoing political impasse.

 

“March 14 (alliance) wants to reach a settlement but not on the expense of Taif,” Adwan said, adding that “as long as there is hope for reaching a settlement we will not elect a president by simple majority.”

 

“No faction in Lebanon is capable of determining solely the destiny of the Lebanese,” Adwan warned.

 

He said contacts with rival leaders from Gen. Michel Aoun”s Free Patriotic Movement “has never stopped despite disagreements.”

 

The legislator said “the presence of a strong state in Lebanon can lead us to victory against Israel.”

 

On recent street clashes between pro- and anti-government supporters, Adwan said that “violence will not yield fruitful results.”

 

Referring to the electoral law, the MP said that the decree of 1960 does not ensure fair Christian representation in Parliament.

 

“At least half the Christian MPs in parliament would not be elected by Christians anymore if the 1960 electoral law was adopted,” Adwan explained.

 

“We support an electoral law that ensures fair Christian-Muslim representation in the legislature,” he added.