Assad”s Plan after Summit … Three Nos

A senior Arab official who took part in the Arab summit uncovered on Friday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants to adhere to “three Nos” in dealing with the Lebanon crisis in the next stage: “No peace, No reconciliation, No solution.”

 

The official stressed that the Assad regime was not at all willing to reach a solution on Lebanon “since such a settlement calls for implementation of Arab as well as Security Council resolutions – both of which call for supporting Lebanon”s independence, sovereignty as well as the international tribunal.

 

He said Assad wants a “Syrian solution” to the Lebanon crisis such as Arab and foreign states will give such a settlement the “necessary support.”

 

The official said Assad was betting that “Syria”s determination” to topple the Lebanese government is “stronger than Arab or international willpower,” adding that Damascus is relying on its allies, particularly Hizbullah.

 

He stressed that the Syrian regime will not hesitate to use all sorts of “weapons, cards and pressure,” including the possibility of a Lebanon-Israel outbreak of war.