Report: Damascus to Deal with Lebanon According to New Conditions
Syrian President Bashar Assad stressed on Tuesday that his country will deal according to its conditions with the Lebanese political powers, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday.
“Damascus will deal according to its conditions with the Lebanese political powers,” Assad told a senior Syrian opposition figure.
According to the daily, Assad hinted to the opposition figure that the “Syrian interests will have its weight in these ties.”
The Syrian president stressed that his country will establish new bilateral ties with the Lebanese authority according to new standards.
Lebanon has disassociated itself from the crisis in the neighboring country, sparking controversy among the pro- and anti-regime supporters in the country.
The Syrian authorities have reportedly breached the Lebanese border several times since the beginning of the revolt in March 2011.
On the local situation, Assad said he is keen to maintain the current date of the parliamentary elections in May.
However, he said that he would consider a request by the parliament to delay the ballots due to technical difficulties, the opposition figure stated.
Assad stated that the Syrian crisis is still at its “beginning,” noting that the international stance is becoming more positive.
In March, Assad announced that the parliamentary election will take place on May 7.
The elections would be the third time a legislative vote has taken place in Syria since Assad came to power in 2000, but the first under a multiparty system as authorized under the new law.
Violence has continued across Syria despite an April 12 cease fire and the deployment of U.N. monitors.
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