Syria Faces Pan-Arab Isolation for Maintaining Grip on Lebanon

Syria is rapidly facing isolation in the Arab World for defying U.N. and U.S. spiraling demands that the Assad regime should withdraw its army from Lebanon and stop its political tutelage over its tiny neighbor, the Beirut media noted on Tuesday. Gulf Arab ministers urged Syria on Monday to respect a U.N. Security Council resolution 1559 that seeks to ease Syria's stranglehold on Lebanon, a rare public intervention in the affairs of a fellow Arab nation. Momentum for a Syrian withdrawal was building among other Arab nations, with Jordan's foreign minister saying his country supported the U.N. resolution demanding foreign forces leave Lebanon without any further procrastination. Egypt also has urged Syria to take "tangible measures" in response to 1559 because President Mubarak was convinced that the U.S. would seek to clamp an international economic blockade on Syria if it fails too leave Lebanon. Ministers of the six Gulf Cooperation Council member-states said all U.N. resolutions must be followed and nations should not be allowed to pick and choose. They were meeting in the Saudi port city, Jeddah. "The Council supports internationally legitimate resolutions, and the last decision issued by the Security Council, calling for the withdrawal of all forces from Lebanon," said Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheik Mohammed Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, head of the GCC's Council of Ministers. The GCC is comprised of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.(AP-Naharnet)

U.S. Congress Moves to 'Liberate Syria and Lebanon' from 'Dictatorship'

 

Naharnet Beirut, Updated 14 Sep 04, 12:00

The U.S. Congress has passed a new bill that effectively sets the stage for a drive to "liberate Syria and Lebanon" from the Damascus dictatorship along the same lines of Iraq's invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein's regime. The new bill is not binding on the Bush administration, but the sponsors hope it would be the prelude for another binding resolution entitled "the bill for the liberation of Syria and Lebanon," As Safir said in a Washington datelined dispatch on Tuesday. The draft bill was passed without any objecting hand risen at the House on Monday, which prompted the Speaker to declare that the blueprint was passed by a two-thirds majority. Representative Tom Lantos then requested a roll call vote. The Speaker said another session would be scheduled later for this purpose, As Safir reported. Lantos, who recently visited Syria and Lebanon in the course of a Middle East tour, is a sponsor of the new bill along with representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was the driving force behind last year's Syria Accountability Act under which clamped mild economic sanctions against the Assad regime. An Nahar said in a dispatch from its own Washington correspondent that the newly passed draft bill number 363 condemned "the flagrant human rights and civil rights violations of the people of Syria and Lebanon by the Syrian Arab Republic." Ros-Lehtinen urged the U.S. Congress to "stand by the side of the Syrian people in their daily struggle for freedom," calling the Damascus regime a dictatorship that "continues to occupy Lebanon and turn it into a hostage nation." "The new bill notes that hundreds of Lebanese had been killed by Syria's secret police in addition to the Syrian regime's suppression of its own people," she claimed, according to An Nahar. The bill also calls for the "termination of the illegal Syrian occupation of Lebanon."

Sitrida: 'Samir is Well in Cell but in Pain for Lebanon's Agony'

Sitrida Geagea has declared that her husband was well despite his 10 years in solitary confinement within a 3-by-two 2 meter underground cell bereft from fresh air and sunlight, "but he is in pain for the agonies Lebanon and the Lebanese are suffering."
Addressing a 20,000-strong rally in Harissa, she also pledged allegiance on behalf of Lebanese Forces commander Samir Geagea to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, "who is leading with prophetic wisdom the march to restore Lebanon's freedom, sovereignty and dignity."
She also pledged the LF within the framework of the Qornet Shahwan coalition to follow the Patriarch's lead in rejecting the Syrian-dictated amendment of the Lebanese constitution that allowed Gen. Lahoud to stay on as president of Lebanon for 3 additional years.
Crowds brandished portraits of the Patriarch, Geagea and Bashir Gemayel, Lebanon's slain president-elect who founded the LF, as Sitrida Geagea made her address after the yearly memorial service "held for martyrs of the Lebanese Forces" at the Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Harissa north of Beirut Sunday, An Nahar reported on Monday.
The massive presence at the Harissa event has gone to show that the LF remains a throbbing nerve in the Christian heartland, An Nahar said, highlighting Mrs. Geagea's declaration that the LF would stand in Lebanon's general elections next spring.
"Samir Geagea is well, but Lebanon is not well," she said from a makeshift podium at the Cathedral's spacious courtyard. "He is well in a cell they designed to be his grave, but which he transformed into a monk's hermitage. Yet he is in pain for the agonies of the homeland and its citizens."
In an address read out on his behalf by Monsignor Youssef Taouk, the Patriarch called for the release of every unjustly held prisoner, "foremost among whom is Samir Geagea." The head of the Maronite Church beseeched the Almighty to help the Lebanese bring about national reconciliation.

source: Naharnet

U.S. Tells Assad to Quit Lebanon or Face Additional Sanctions

Naharnet
Beirut, Updated 10 Sep 04, 12:03

The United States is sending a "strong message" to Syria that it should withdraw its army from Lebanon and terminate its dominance of its tiny neighbor without further delay, saying the Bush administration would not rule out any punishment option should the Assad government fail to obey.
The move was revealed by the newly appointed chief of the Middle East department at the U.S. State Department, Elizabeth Deble , in an interview published Friday by the Beirut newspaper As Safir. This department covers Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Egypt.

She said Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern affairs William Burns would deliver the message personally to President Assad when he meets in Damascus shortly. "It's a strong message that has to be delivered to the highest authority about the need of change in Syria's policy in many spheres."

Foremost among these spheres, Deble went on, "is that the time has come for Syria to pull out its armed forces from Lebanon, stop interfering in Lebanon's domestic affairs and discontinue support of Hizbullah."

In case of Syrian defiance, Deble said, the Bush administration would examine its options in light of the outcome of Burns' talks with Assad and the report that will be presented to the Security Council by Secretary-General Kofi Annan about the response of Lebanon and Syria to resolution 1559.

"We do not rule out any option," she said, pointing out that action would be taken within the framework of the Security Council and within the context of Syria's Accountability bill.

Asked about contentions in Beirut that the United States sponsorship of resolution 1559 constituted foreign intervention in Lebanese affairs, Deble laughed and said "it's the other way round. The foreign intervention came from Syria, not the United States."

She called Syria's imposition of Gen. Lahoud as president of Lebanon for three additional years a "crude, rude and foolish intervention."

Deble rejected claims by the Assad administration that the United States was out to punish Syria in Lebanon because of Syria's steadfastness on the Palestinian question and its opposition to the Iraq war. " What we actually see is Syria punishing the Lebanese," she said.

Pentagon Strategist Urges Non-Stop Pressure to Rescue Lebanon from Syria

Naharnet Beirut, Updated 09 Sep 04, 10:15 A senior Pentagon strategist has urged continuous pressure on Damascus to force President Assad's regime to stop treating Lebanon as a Syrian satellite, amid reports that President Bush planned to add Syria to his self-styled Axis of Evil if he is reelected in November. "We have to keep up the pressure in Lebanon. We have managed to unite with France and seven other U.S. Security Council member-states to pressure Syria into stopping its treatment of Lebanon as a Syrian satellite," said U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, the top architect of the Iraq war. "Lebanon is a state that had proven in the past its ability to rule itself within the framework of a democratic system. It's a tragedy that it cannot manifest this now," Wolfowitz said in a speech marking the third anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, As Safir reported Thursday. His speech was indicative that the Bush administration would seek another U.S. Security Council resolution next month that may clamp economic and financial sanctions against Syria for defying resolution 1559 and imposing Gen. Lahoud as President of Lebanon for three extra years in violation of the Lebanese constitution.

Bush May Add Syria to Axis of Evil to Break its Grip on Lebanon

Naharnet

Beirut, Updated 09 Sep 04, 10:15

President Bush may add Syria to the international Axis of Evil he has been targeting in the 3-year-old war on terrorism if he wins a second term in the White House, An Nahar reported on Thursday. Democrats in Congress are getting apprehensive that a reelected Bush would add Syria plus four or five other nations to the Axis, which had originally included Saddam Hussein's toppled regime in Iraq in addition to Iran and North Korea. National U.S. newspapers contend Bush was particularly annoyed by Syria's defiance of Security Council resolution 1559, which was sponsored by the U.S. and France and which urged a free election by the Beirut parliament of a new president for Lebanon. The Assad regime, however, chose to escalate its intervention in Lebanon's domestic affairs and dictate a 3-year extension of Gen. Lahoud's term so as to tighten instead of relax Syria's stranglehold on Lebanon, U.S. editorialists noted. The Bush administration's policy of preemptive anti-terror wars could encourage the Axis of Evil expansion to include other targets for U.S. military belligerency, Time magazine warned. Only Syria was named by U.S. official as a new entrant. The other marked nations were not identified.

Lebanon Extends Term of Leader Imposed by Syria

Lebanon’s Parliament yesterday amended the country’s constitution to extend pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud’s term in office by three years, turning its back on UN calls to hold an election to choose the head-of-state.
The result, secured after Lahoud supporters mustered more than the two-thirds of votes needed, had been expected since neighbouring Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon, has been asserting Lahoud’s bid to extend his six-year term, which was due to expire Nov. 24.
One night earlier, the UN Security Council approved a resolution aimed at pressuring Lebanon to reject a second term for Lahoud and calling for an immediate withdrawal of all its foreign forces – an indirect reference to Syrian troops.
Syria has dominated Lebanon for decades and currently has about 20,000 troops stationed in the country. The US State Department accused Syria yesterday of threatening members of Lebanon’s parliament to force the enactment.“We are gravely concerned that the will of the Lebanese people has been circumvented,” said Tom Kasey, a department spokesman. "Syria and its agents threatened the legislators to secure passage, " Kasey added, “making this a crude mockery of democratic principles.”

U.N. Security Council adopts resolution 1559

03 Sep 2004 00:19:39

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council narrowly adopted a resolution on Thursday telling Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and warning against outside interference in Beirut's presidential election.
The council voted 9-0 with six abstentions, the minimum vote possible, to approve the U.S.-drafted resolution after the United States and co-sponsor France agreed under pressure not to mention Syria by name, although it is the only country with foreign forces in Lebanon.
The resolution aims to head off a move in Lebanon's parliament to amend the constitution and extend the term of Syrian-backed Lebanese President Emile Lahoud for three years after his current six-year term expires in November.
Lebanon's 128-member assembly has set a vote on the constitutional change for Friday and officials said the amendment would easily win the required two-thirds majority.
Syria dominates Lebanon politically and has some 17,000 soldiers in the country after flooding Lebanon with its troops during the 1975-1990 civil war.
"We believe Lebanon should be allowed to determine its own future and assume control of its own territory. Yet the Lebanese people are still unable to exercise their rights as a free people to make those choices and to take those steps as a nation," U.S. Ambassador John Danforth told the council.
"What the Lebanese people and we have witnessed over the past week in terms of Syrian actions is a crude mockery of this principle. It is clear that Lebanese parliamentarians have been pressured and even threatened by Syria and its agents to make them comply," Danforth said.
A senior Lebanese official asked council members to withdraw the resolution, saying the U.N. body had never interfered in this manner in the internal affairs of a member-state.
Mohammed Issa, Lebanon's secretary-general for foreign affairs, said Syrian troops were in the country at his government's request to help rebuff "radical action emanating from Israel."
Syria certainly did not need to leave when Israel was still on Lebanese territory, he said. But the United Nations decided in 2000 that Israel had withdrawn and that its troops in the Shaaba farms area were in Syria, not Lebanon, unless the two countries decided to change the border, which they have not.

The Full Text of Draft of The UN Security Council Resolution

The American Lebanese Coalition (ALC) praises the draft "It shows the beginning of the international process"
Washington DC, New York. September 1, 2004

Leaders from the American Lebanese Coalition, a federation of six Lebanese-American organizations said today that "the draft of a UNSC resolution asking Syria to withdraw from Lebanon shows the beginning of the international process of Lebanon's recovery." The ALC leaders who were reviewing the text independently said "the language expressed in this resolution to be introduced and voted expresses the strategic views of both the United States and the European Union. Dr Joseph Gebeiley, President of the ALC said "our meetings with Administration officials in Washington back in March confirmed to us that US leaders were aware of Syria's abuse of Lebanon's sovereignty." Tom Harb, the Vice President for Political Affairs of ALC said "last Spring, during our meetings in New York we felt that most diplomats have been hoping Syria would unilaterally facilitate and speed up its withdrawl from Lebanon considering the serious developments in the region. Unfortunatelty Damascus didn't. We felt the same situation after we met with European officials last June."

In New York, the representative of the ALC at the Republican convention Dr Anis Karam, said "this Administration is consistent with its plans and goals. What we have here is a text for a new UNSC resolution circulating among diplomats, few blocks away from here. That alone is a historic moment thanks to President Bush, his assistants and the US Congress with its bi-partisan support." Karam, who will be speaking to al Hurra TV tonight, said he would also be visiting the Security Council in the next 24 hours.

In Sydney, the President of the Diaspora-based World Lebanese Cultural Union said he is thrilled to learn that the Security Council of the UN is reviewing the draft. "When we met with the US, French, Russian and German delegations last March in New York, we were simply expressing the aspirations of 12 million Lebanese in the diaspora and also the feelings and frustrations of Lebanon's civil society. Today, I am relieved that the great powers, based on justice and considerations of peace and stability are exploring such a resolution." Baini said he is values the Franco-American cooperation on this issue and thank also the efforts of the Lebanese American community, particularly the American-Lebanese Coalition ALC, which led these efforts in Washington and at the United Nations"


TEXT OF THE DRAFT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
This text is only a draft

The Security Council

Recalling all its previous resolutions on Lebanon, in particular resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) of 19 March 1978, resolution 520 (1982) of 17 September 1982, and resolution 1553 (2004) of 29 July 2004 as well as the statements of its President on the situation in Lebanon, in particular the statement of 18 June 2000 (S/PRST/2000/21),

Reiterating its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its territorially recognized borders,

Noting the determination of Lebanon to ensure the withdrawal of all non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon,

Gravely concerned at the continued presence of armed militias in Lebanon, which prevent the Lebanese government from exercising its full sovereignty over all Lebanese territory,

Reaffirming the importance of the extension of the control of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory,

Mindful of the upcoming Lebanese presidential elections and underlining the importance of free and fair elections according to Lebanese constitutional rules devised without foreign interference or influence,

1. Reaffirms its call for the strict respect of Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and exclusive authority of the Government of Lebanon throughout Lebanon;
2. Demands that Syrian forces withdraw without delay from Lebanon;
3. Calls for the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias;
4. Supports the extension of the control of the government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory;
5. Declares its support for a free and fair electoral process in Lebanon's upcoming Presidential election conducted according to Lebanese constitutional rules devised without foreign interference or influence;
6. Calls upon all parties concerned to cooperate fully and urgently with the Security Council for the full implementation of this and all relevant resolutions concerning the restoration of the territorial integrity, full sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon;
7. Decides to remain actively seized of this matter and requests that the Secretary General reports to the Security Council within thirty days on the implementation by the parties of this resolution and declares its readiness to consider additional measures to further the implementation of this resolution as it reviews the progress being made.

Maronite Bishops: Syria is to Blame

Naharnet Beirut, Updated 31 Aug 04, 18:26

The Maronite church blasted Syria's dictation of General Lahoud as president for three more years in Lebanon and demanded that the Syrian government withdraw its army from Lebanon and terminate its 28-year-old tutelage over the country. The outburst came in a statement released by the monthly conclave of the Maronite bishops under Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at his summer residence in North Lebanon's Diman monastery. Describing as 'unconstitutional' the proposed constitutional amendment to extend Lahoud's term, the statement called on MPs to disregard the 'threats' they are receiving and to 'place before their conscience the future of their children' in the upcoming vote on the amendment. Turning to Syria, the bishops unleashed their heaviest yet tirade against its role in Lebanese politics. "The Syrian army has been in Lebanon since 1976 and the Taef accord states that the Syrian army should withdraw from Lebanon two years after it was signed but things are still the same," the statement read. The statement went on to say flatly that Syria deals with Lebanon as though it were a 'Syrian province', citing a quote from an unnamed Syrian newspaper that bragged Syria was the 'major, if not the only, voter in Lebanon'. "This statement was verified by the latest events, and Lebanonization has turned into pure Syrianization, devoid of any Lebanese opinions." "While Syria may have helped Lebanon in some respects, it has exhausted it in others as it appoints leaders, organizes elections, parliamentary and otherwise, includes and excludes whomever it wants, and interferes in all of Lebanon's sectors: administrative, judiciary, the economy, and especially politics, through its representative in it (Lebanon) and his aides, and compromises Lebanese interests in international forums, and protects the corrupt ".. bribery has flourished, and the culture of corruption prospered as the Lebanese people, and especially the youth, immigrate in large numbers, and those who stay become poorer every day, and Lebanon is burdened by heavy debts that threaten its collapse, and if it collapses, Syria won't escape unscathed, and that is what we do not wish for Lebanon, or for Syria. Drawing parallels between Syria's refusal to remain united with Jamal Abd al-Nasser's Egypt in the sixties of last century, and the current Lebanese fury at Syrian intervention in its affairs, the statement said that while the bishops do not wish to 'clear the Lebanese of any blame' or 'express hostility to Syria', good relations between the two countries must be based on mutual respect. Finally, it warned that "what harms Lebanon will definitely harm Syria, and will have negative implications for both countries."