Bassil Says Syria Relation in Lebanon Interest, Slams Parties 'Exploiting' It

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Free Patriotic Movement chief and caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil stressed Friday that the relation with Syria is “in Lebanon's interest,” as he noted that it should not be “exploited” by any political party.

“Our relation with Syria is in the interest of Lebanon and all its components, but the relations with Syria cannot be the subject of domestic overbidding or exploitation by a certain party seeking to improve its own relation with Syria at Lebanon's expense,” Bassil said during a visit to Zahle.

“We have put an end to the subordinate and subservient foreign policy and we're now practicing an independent policy based on reciprocity for the sake of Lebanon,” the FM added.

“When Syria was in Lebanon, we confronted it until its withdrawal, and when Syria returned to its territory, we boldly declared our determination to establish the best relations with it. We are not ashamed of this and it changes nothing of our history,” the minister went on to say.

Turning to the controversy over Syria's return to the Arab League, Bassil said: “We were the first to call for Syria's return to the Arab League and we will not merely follow a certain side to Syria when they decide so.”

“We objected against the suspension of Syria's membership in the Arab League from the very beginning and we preserved the best ties with it and it is normal today to help in its return,” the FPM chief went on to say.

He added: “We are keen on our national unity but we also reject to subject our national interests to harm and we will not await a decision from beyond the border.”

“The war in Syria had suffocated us and the Arab markets were closed in our face, so it is unacceptable to suffocate ourselves during peacetime,” Bassil said.

Tensions have surged in Lebanon in recent weeks between parties who want Damascus to be invited to a key Arab economic summit in Beirut and others who reject its participation.

Some parties have meanwhile called for postponing the summit until after Syria's return to the Arab League.

Comments 8
Thumb barrymore 11 January 2019, 17:48

"Free Patriotic Movement chief and caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil stressed Friday that the relation with Syria is “in Lebanon's interest,” as he noted that it should not be “exploited” by any political party."

Sending criminals to Lebanon and arming thugs is in the interest of Lebanon? Sending explosives with Michel Smaha to blow up religious figures is in the interest of Lebanon? Massacring people in Tripoli mosques is also in the interest of Lebanon?

Hanging this traitor is surely in the interest of Lebanon and humanity.

Thumb ___flamethrower___ 11 January 2019, 18:10

Never has Lebanon known or seen a Foreign Minister as Syrian as this one, ever!

Thumb EagleDawn 11 January 2019, 18:15

"the_roar: 15 minutes ago
Ladies and Gentlemen: You've just listened to the future president of Lebanon. Learn people, learn."

Thumb justin 11 January 2019, 19:00

Strange.... since the elections he has not mentioned the Syrian refugees?!

Thumb doodle-dude 12 January 2019, 08:16

lol, yes it is seasonal.

Missing servant-of-jesus 11 January 2019, 21:51

:O
any evidence to support any of this?

Thumb liberty 12 January 2019, 06:03

Here is the evidence @ 'servant-of-Iran':

"Bassil Says Syria Relation in Lebanon Interest"

Thumb gma-bs-artist. 12 January 2019, 15:24

servant, that he's a Syria sleeper is my own opinion based on the guys actions ever since he popped up on the political scene. He's done all he can to show the Syrian regime in a favorable light. His favorite FPM Qawmi loaner
Elias Bou Saab even claimed that the Syrians were not occupier. When that preposterous claim was challenged by Jean Azziz, Azziz lost his job. The rest of the information is well documented and common knowledge to FPM activists and most anyone living in Lebanon and old enough to have struggled against and survived the Syrian occupation and it's hegemony. You can find it if you bothered to do a little research.