Suleiman Denies Syria Smuggled Chemical Arms to Hizbullah
President Michel Suleiman stated that Hizbullah does not accept the use of chemical weapons, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.
He therefore told the daily: “Syria's chemical weapons have not been smuggled to Lebanon and there is no evidence of their presence in the country.”
Asked if he discussed this matter with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week, he responded: “Iran will not allow itself to resort to weapons of mass destruction.”
He revealed that his discussions with his Iranian counterpart stressed the need to respect the Baabda Declaration and adopt Lebanon's policy of disassociation from regional developments.
“Rouhani voiced his support that Lebanese steer away from regional developments and that it be kept away from their repercussions,” continued Suleiman.
He revealed however that he did not explicitly discuss Hizbullah's involvement in Syria, but only emphasized that Lebanon's stability be preserved.
Asked by the daily if they addressed the tense ties between him and Hizbullah, Suleiman responded: “Our ties are not strained as I held talks recently with the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammed Raad during which he expressed Hizbullah's understanding of my views.”
“They are aware of my opinion on Hizbullah's involvement in Syria, which stem from my position as president and duty to preserve Lebanon,” he explained.
“The strength of my relationships with others are directly proportional to how committed they are to the Lebanese state,” he said.
“It is in the interest of all sides to implement the Baabda Declaration and I think it will be implemented sooner or later,” he continued.
In a speech marking Army Day in August, the president lashed out at the military interventions in Syria, without naming any sides, saying the blood of Lebanese should not be sacrificed to serve the interests of other countries.
He called for a review of the national defense strategy in light of Hizbullah’s involvement in Syria, while stressing the state should enjoy a monopoly over the use of military force to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Syrian government troops are backed by Hizbullah members in their fight against rebels seeking to topple President Bashar Assad.
Also on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly, Suleiman met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, revealing that he sensed an easing in tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which he hoped will reflect positively on the region, and most importantly, Lebanon.
Commenting on his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Suleiman said: “I will discuss with kingdom officials the developments in the region and their impact on Lebanon.”
“Saudi Arabia has been Lebanon's main supporter throughout its history of political and economic crises,” he explained while denying that the talks will address the formation of a new government in Lebanon.
He is scheduled to hold talks in Saudi Arabia with King Abdullah and former Premier Saad Hariri.
Asked about the alleged severing of ties between him and Assad, Suleiman explained: “The ties have not been cut, but we deal with Syria on the basis of the Taef Accord.”
Moreover, he added: “A misunderstanding took place after the arrest of former Minister Michel Samaha which led to a halt of telephone calls between me and Assad.”
“My ties with the Syrian president are built on other foundations that are linked to the interests of Lebanon and Syria and their people,” he continued.
In addition, Suleiman cited Assad's failure to offer his condolences to him over the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Wissam al-Hasan as another factor that led to the current state of the ties between the two presidents.
Samaha, who is considered close to the Syrian regime, was arrested in August 2012 for planning attacks in Lebanon along with Syrian security chief General Ali Mamlouk and a colonel known only by his first name as Adnan.
In October 2012, Hasan was killed in a car bomb attack in the Beirut district of Ashrafiyeh.
The powerful explosion rocked a street adjacent to Sassine Square in Ashrafiyeh, leaving seven other people dead and 78 others wounded, in the first such attack in the Lebanese capital since 2008.
Hasan was close to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and hostile to the regime in Syria.
The ISF played a central role in Samaha's arrest.
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