Suleiman Accuses Syria of Sparking Diplomatic Spat with Lebanon
President Michel Suleiman considered that Syrian authorities were the first to spark the dispute on the complaints against Lebanon, considering that the memos sent to the United Nations and the Arab League on Syrian violations as constitutional.
“The constitution states that the president is in charge of maintaining the safety of citizens and Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” visitors quoted Suleiman as saying.
They told As Safir newspaper published on Friday that the president considered that Syrian authorities initiated the matter, accusing the Syrians of sending “memos of stronger contexts to the U.N.”
“I stressed on the importance of stability in Syria in my memos... I also pointed out at the violations committed by both the rebels and the regime forces against Lebanon,” Suleiman said.
He noted that Lebanese authorities at the beginning chose to “deal with the matter according to the norms that govern the relations of any two countries... But I was personally attacked and threatened.”
Suleiman said that he is only interested in “safeguarding Lebanon and its citizens,” denying accusations that he is defending the Syrian opposition.
“My duty obliges me to safeguard Lebanon from any danger... I had to send those memos and I didn't demand any measures to be taken,” he added.
On Wednesday, Hizbullah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said in a hint to Suleiman that “those who are keen on Lebanon should not be subject to the U.S. dictates under the excuse of defending constitutional institutions.”
Qassem also accused the president without naming him of “standing in the same trench of the American-Israeli project.”
Another March 8 figure, Baath Party MP Assem Qanso accused Suleiman of “high treason.”
The memos handed by the president to the U.N. and the Arab League deal with the violations and attacks carried out by all the warring parties in Syria.
Syrian regime troops have carried out attacks on Lebanese border areas, mainly air raids on the northeastern town of Arsal, which has become an escape route for rebels and people running away from the fighting in Syria.
There have also been several attacks from rebel-held areas of Syria on Hizbullah strongholds in recent months.
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