Salam: Negotiations to Free Soldiers Continue with Utmost Secrecy
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Tammam Salam stated on Wednesday that negotiations to free the abducted soldiers in Arsal have started to take the right course, as General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim said that “the file is on the right track.”
“Negotiations with the kidnappers have started to take effect,” Salam said following a parliamentary session and in remarks published in As Safir daily, primarily after the release of a soldier who was kidnapped two weeks ago.
More than 30 soldiers have been kidnapped by the Islamist State and al-Nusra Front in August during fierce clashes in Arsal with the Lebanese Army.
Families of the soldiers have since been blocking several major roads in protest, the latest was the Masnaa road on the border with Syria.
The security forces clashed with the families on Tuesday when they tried to reopen the Masnaa road.
To that, Salam said: “The issue of abducted soldiers will not end if the families of soldiers and political parties continue to pressure us with this kind of terrorism. The soldiers will turn into cheap goods in bizarre differences.”
“The government is negotiating the kidnappers with utmost secrecy,” added Salam stressing that sensitive negotiations should not be publicized and it's unnecessary that the whole world knows the details.
“There is a long mechanism that needs to take course. After my meeting with President Recep Tayyib Erdgoan he vowed that Turkey will exert the necessary efforts and so did the Qatari side.”
Salam remarked that “the Qatari negotiator arrived in Lebanon two days ago, and that Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim kicked off efforts in that regard.”
On his part, Ibrahim stressed to al-Joumhouria daily that “the release of a soldier put the file on the right track, but the road is still long and difficult.”
Qatari mediations in collaboration with the General Security led to the release of First Adjutant Kamal al-Hujeiri on Tuesday, who was abducted by extremist armed men two weeks ago from his farm on the outskirts of Arsal.
Similar efforts continue to free the soldiers who were taken hostage in August.
01 October 2014, 09:03
13
"Salam remarked that “the Qatari negotiator arrived in Lebanon two days ago, and that Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim kicked off efforts in that regard.”
"Qatari mediations in collaboration with the General Security led to the release of First Adjutant Kamal al-Hujeiri on Tuesday, who was abducted by extremist armed men two weeks ago from his farm on the outskirts of Arsal."
But flamethrower said the Qatari mediator came to Lebanon under a "clandestine" operation without the knowledge of the authorities.
01 October 2014, 09:23
12
lol he is a sectarian paid mouthpiece who trolls the forum and forgets what he said 10 minutes ago. He makes things up as he goes along in his daily and assigned duties.
01 October 2014, 10:43
12
the PRIME MINISTER is describing the events as they happened, and you still arguing and banging your thick skull against the wall? Amazing!
01 October 2014, 09:26
02
I disagree! Flamethrower is the reason why this site is popular. He brings ratings and publicity to the forum and is considered by many as Naharnet Idol. I visit naharnet not to read its one sided articles but to read Flamethrower's comments.
