General Security Chief to Nusra Front: We Will Not Negotiate on Corpses

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim stated on Saturday that freeing the abducted soldiers and policemen is a thorny file that needs patience and a long time to work out, assuring that he will not negotiate the kidnappers on corpses.

“Serious negotiations are about to begin with a list of three choices that have been set by al-Nusra in preparation for the swap,” said Ibrahim in an interview to the al-Akhbar daily.

He stressed that he made it clear to the kidnapper that he will not negotiate on corpses and that the servicemen need to be freed alive.

Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State groups have been holding several troops and policemen hostage since August 2, when they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal and engaged in bloody clashes with the army.

During last week's meeting of the crisis cell aimed at tackling this file, the government decided that “the kidnappers set three choices, not conditions, to release the soldiers. We took the decision and sent it back to them through the Qatari mediator. We are still waiting for the answer,” said Ibrahim.

Al-Nusra Front said that the three-month hostage crisis would end if 10 inmates held at Lebanese prisons would be freed for each hostage or seven Lebanese inmates and 30 female prisoners held in Syria would be released for each abducted soldier and policeman or if five Lebanese and 50 women inmates would be freed.

He added: “Al-Nusra started to say what it really wants since it issued its first statement. All other reports were mere individual reactions that do not represent the group. The three choices sent to us were the only official demands and a starting point for serious negotiations because the demands have been set. The ball is in their court now.”

Ibrahim emphasized that the safety of the soldiers and the State's authority are non-negotiable.

On the role of Damascus, Ibrahim said: “Damascus is ready for talks, but I wonder if they are ready to give as they did in the file of the abducted Maaloula nuns. All am sure about is that it would offer help for anything linked to the Lebanese army and its authority.”

On whether the kidnappers gave guarantees that they will not execute any of the soldiers, Ibrahim said: “There are no guarantees but there are insinuations. I sent a letter to al-Nusra with the Qatari mediator that if they killed any of the soldiers or policemen there would be no reason to negotiate with them or meet their demands. We will not negotiate on corpses. I only negotiate on alive soldiers.”