Suleiman Urges Kerry to Resolve Syria Crisis Politically, Calls for Protection of Christians
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman reiterated on Wednesday that the U.N. should hold accountable officials who used chemical weapons in Syria away from foreign military intervention.
During a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Suleiman said he rejected the use of chemical weapons but stressed the importance of a U.N. Security Council role in holding accountable the persons who used them, and finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday he had asked congressional leaders to postpone a vote on legislation he has been seeking to authorize the use of military force against Syria over a chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburbs on Aug. 21.
U.S. officials say more than 1,400 people died, including at least 400 children, and victims suffered uncontrollable twitching, foaming at the mouth and other symptoms typical of exposure to chemical weapons banned by international treaty.
A Baabda palace statement said Suleiman also told Kerry that civilians, no matter to which sect they belong to, should be protected in armed conflicts.
The president called for the preservation of civilizations and the religious sites of Christians mainly in the towns of Maalula and Bludan.
Syrian rebels were still positioned in the historic Christian town of Maalula near Damascus on Wednesday, a day after they announced they were ready to withdraw, a security source told Agence France Presse.
On Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and residents said rebel forces, including jihadists linked to al-Qaida, had overrun Maalula.
The town, home to about 5,000 people, is strategically important for rebels, who are trying to tighten their grip around Damascus and already have bases all around the capital.
Civilians started fleeing the town, which is considered a symbol of the Christian presence in Syria, nearly a week ago, fearing an imminent escalation.
Suleiman urged Kerry “to study the appropriate means that would guarantee the safety” of religious towns, said the Baabda statement.
They also discussed a planned Sept. 25 meeting of an international support group for Lebanon at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Suleiman hoped for a U.S. contribution to guarantee the success of the meeting to confront the Syrian refugee influx.
11 September 2013, 14:27
128
the strange thing is that you don't want to see that the one who "massacre the ones who opposes them" is your Hezb and Syrian Regime
why don't you change the flag and your name to "Iranian or Syrian" .. it fits better for your washed brain and blind eyes
11 September 2013, 14:46
92
The only problem I see in all of you is that no one wants to stop the killing ur rahter have a Muslim die then a Christian? I would love to hear your toughs on that and even more, more then one hundred thousand Muslims died and when lets say"10" christian's are killed then its the takfriries and i dont know what! Guys wake up
12 September 2013, 02:16
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Rory: A true Christian does not differentiate senseless killing of innocent people between religious lines. If you read the commentaries of the "responsible/concerned" readers of Naharnet, you will see that we've condemned the senseless killing of all innocent Syrian, whether Sunni of Shiite. In Syria Muslims and killing Muslims where both sides have their respective proxies in the region. The Christians in Syria do not. Do not pay any attention to the remarks on this cite by those who have made in their daily routine equivocate the situation in Syria.
11 September 2013, 14:49
132
Mr Pres. as christians we dont need protection from anyone... educated and enlightened and true muslims know very well that they need christians to stay not to Kandaharize Lebanon... Muslims need christians unless they prefer radicals.
11 September 2013, 18:29
67
Trust me, Most Sunnis of Syria and Lebanon will agree with you. Our problem is not Our Sunnis. Our problem the people who support Saudi Arabia and Qatar and implement these filth into our progressive society. Including Christians, namely Geagea, are among the people who conspire to kill and eliminate Christians from ME. A murderer sleeping with the Saudi: a recipe for a crime!
11 September 2013, 14:54
85
Flamethrower I'm sure you don't know what your talking about @ all because if u went to the UAE and so the lebanese community there you would understand and last time i checked im pretty sure that the UAE is stronger bigger richer and safer then lebanon.
11 September 2013, 18:12
610
like sarkozy, the son of a jewish mother told Batrak al Rahi, " christains have no place in the middle east". Imagine if he said that about jews?
Qatar owns france and who do they support!
Henry Kissinger's plan to give the palestinians lebanon and relocate the lebanese christians to canada is still USA policy. President Frangieh threw an ash tray at him when hearing of his plan! now it becomes clearer why he invited syria for help in 1975.
look at the christains in iraq, in egypt... and mustaqbul party dares patronise lebanese christains on the threats that we have experienced!
"our church bells will always ring in Lebanon"... Bachir Gemayel
11 September 2013, 18:25
610
Well said my friend! I hope your account won't be deleted for saying the truth and support the Christians. Small-brainwashed people do NOT understand that saving the ME Christians is for the safety and prosperity of every human being in the ME. However, they still might delete you. I said what you said and got deleted
11 September 2013, 18:21
510
Kissinger of USA said it and Sarkozy in 2010 said it (Kissinger is Jewish, Sarkozy is half Jewish) NO PLACE FOR CHRISTIANS in ME. Thanks to Assad, the father, Lebanon Christians were saved. Iraq and Egypt communities have 70% eliminated. However, I am sure the son will be as good as the father. God bless Baath!
11 September 2013, 19:44
93
You've been reported for disrespect.
In the country I live in, you'd be arrested and judged jailed or fined for writing what you did.
12 September 2013, 01:59
00
Was it a war mongering and/or Zionist agenda when the U.S. took out Milosevic?. You undermine your position and statements when you make such remarks. Zionism is in hour head.
12 September 2013, 02:05
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Southern. "Lebanon would be the next if those saudis/usa(warmonger)/zionists backed terrorists take over." The Saudis, yes. The U.S. is only interested in securing its investments in the M.S. same as Russia. As shown by the recent poles, the American people do not care one way or another about taking or giving away countries. You should be more respectful towards a noble Lebanese President, unless of course you are Iranian.
