Mansour Sends Memorandum to Syria, but Falls Short of 'Protest' Expectations
Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour revealed on Wednesday that he sent a memorandum to Syrian Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali demanding his country to avoid the recurrence of any border incidents.
Mansour made the revelation to reporters ahead of a cabinet session at the Grand Serail and following two days of harsh criticism by the March 14 opposition on his procrastination in delivering a letter of complaint on Syria’s violations of Lebanese territories in compliance with President Michel Suleiman’s request.
But the foreign minister’s memorandum fell short of Suleiman’s demand of a protest letter on repeated incursions to Lebanon.
Ahead of his move, Mansour shrugged off demands to summon Ali or expel him, saying “summoning does not take place among brethren.”
“I will snap back at my critics in the appropriate way and at the appropriate time,” Mansour told several newspapers.
The March 14 criticism came after Ali violated the protocol on Monday and made a statement even before receiving the letter of protest.
Syria should instead be filing complaints because its border posts are being attacked from Lebanese territories, the diplomat said.
The opposition also criticized the foreign minister, who reiterated that he was taking his time in delivering the letter to the Syrian envoy because he is trying to “document the security information” after allegedly five Lebanese men were killed inside Syrian territories.
He said “there is no need to hand him (Ali) a letter of complaint but a diplomatic memo because the violation did not come from one side.”
The issue drew a sharp reaction from the opposition which met with Mansour on Tuesday to pressure him into handing over the letter to the Syrian ambassador.
Al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Nuhad Mashnouq said he will ask the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee to call for a meeting to discuss the issue.
“The Lebanese authorities should have expelled the Syrian envoy” for crossing the line, said the opposition lawmaker, who also criticized Mansour for supporting him.
Another March 14 official, Phalange lawmaker Elie Marouni, ridiculed Mansour for “still trying to figure out the appropriate words to write the letter.”
“He should have given the Syrian ambassador a few hour ultimatum to leave” Lebanon, he said.
Sources close to Prime Minister Najib Miqati said the premier learned of Suleiman’s request only after it was made. They stressed that the issue will not be discussed during a cabinet session at the Grand Serail on Wednesday.
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