Syrian Envoy Slams March 14 Memo as 'Unachievable, Media Uproar'
Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali on Tuesday said the memorandum submitted by the March 14 forces to President Michel Suleiman is “unachievable” and “unrealistic,” calling on the Lebanese government to respond to this “media uproar.”
“Syria has always made it clear that the treaties signed between the two countries serve Lebanon’s interest before Syria’s,” Ali said in an interview on al-Manar television.
Earlier on Tuesday, ex-PM Fouad Saniora submitted to Suleiman a memo prepared by the March 14 forces and demanding the annulment of the security treaties with Syria, the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador, the filing of a complaint with the Arab League over Syria’s violations and reporting the breaches to the U.N. Security Council.
“Syria is keen on the brotherly relation, but it is also keen on its sovereignty,” Ali said.
The ambassador doubted that the Lebanese would accept the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers on the border with Syria.
“Lebanon’s interest lies in cooperating with Syria along the vast border,” Ali added.
Asked about March 14’s memorandum, the ambassador said “the Lebanese side must respond to these remarks and the demands it contains are unachievable and unrealistic,” adding that “it would only benefit them by creating a media uproar.”
In another interview with NBN television, Ali said “Syria is the side that has the right to raise questions about the violation of its border from Lebanon,” noting that “Syria, its citizens and its borders are coming under the gunfire of gunmen on a daily basis.”
“When Syria shoots back at the sources of gunfire in order to defend its territory, this obliges the Lebanese state and its army, leadership and government to address the situations on Lebanese territory and prevent certain forces from aiding the countries that are plotting against Syria,” Ali added.
He also called on the Lebanese government to conduct a reevaluation.
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