Saniora: Those Calling for Freedom in Lebanon Can't Do so while Supporting Syrian Regime

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora noted on Wednesday that some sides in Lebanon who are accusing others of meddling in the Syrian crisis are in fact guilty of these charges.

He said: “Those calling for the freedom in Lebanon cannot do so while simultaneously supporting the Syrian regime.”

He made his statements during the launch of the Mustaqbal movement’s political document on the Arab Spring, entitled “Al-Mustabqal and the Perspectives of the Arab Spring.”

Saniora said: “At the outbreak of the uprising against the Syrian regime, the charges of conspiracy and treason have flared up against supporters of independence and those who express their solidarity with the Syrian people's uprising against its despotic regime.”

“These accusations stemmed from the pretext that those who are supportive of the Syrian people are guilty of ‘conspiring against the Resistance’ and that the specificity of Lebanese-Syrian relations requires a non-interference in Syrian affairs,” he noted.

“In Lebanon, those who really interfere in Syrian affairs by the autocratic methods of yesteryear, are those who proclaim loud and clear every day in the media, on the ground and in all Arab and international forums, that they support the Syrian regime against its people, or that they distance themselves from any interference in Syrian affairs,” declared the former premier.

He stated that the year 2011 witnessed the explosion of Arab youth movements, which started in Tunisia and spread to other Arab countries, especially those with military and security regimes.

“These movements had four characteristics: the large number of participants, their diversity, a majority of youth, and their insistence on the peaceful nature of their movement despite the oppression they suffered since the first day,” noted the MP.

“They also shared the same slogans and goals: freedom, dignity, pluralistic democracy, justice, and civil State,” added the head of the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc.

“We consider the Arab change a period of maturity,” Saniora remarked.

“It places the Arab world, including us, at the gateway of a new future filled with the ambitions of our youth, to establish political regimes on the basis of the respect of rights and public freedoms, especially religious freedoms, of the safeguard of human dignity, and of justice and good management of the public affairs,” he said.

“This review is aimed at preserving the unity of our society and its diversity in this time of change.

Additionally, it would help start a common, comprehensive, and advanced action on the national level with all social, cultural and political groups of Lebanon, to strengthen coexistence,” explained the MP.

It will also help strengthen the National Pact and constitution as starting points to improve public affairs, and allow our youth to participate in building their future, he added.

The change ushered by Arab youth is a long-term democratic process, which goes beyond holding elections that result in a ruling majority, he stated.

The change will ensure full equality between all citizens, protect public freedoms, respect diversity, and reject any monopoly from the part of a majority, whatever its nature, declared Saniora.

Below is the full text of the Mustaqbal movement's document on the Arab Spring:

The Future Movement and the Perspectives of the Arab Spring-Document

SourceNaharnet
Comments 19
Missing the-judge 07 March 2012, 19:33

Yes Mr Sanioura, only support the regime of KSA for freedom and democracy! not the Syrian Great logic

Default-user-icon Khodr Bouhamra (Guest) 07 March 2012, 19:48

Shouldn't this piece of filth who was the right hand man of Rafic Syria, Syria's best Rafic, who got the ultimate punishment that collaborators deserve, tell this to himself and the thugs in his own den of thieves and crooks?

Missing lebcan 08 March 2012, 12:29

You people in M8 are the THUGS... M14 people were assassinated in recent years not M8... M8 people usually go out in the streets and burn tires and harass and intimidate people that have a different view... and mostly in a violent way... the worst of which was on May 7, 2008. CROOKS !!! you looser, before 2005 there was no M14 or M8 and under Syrian Control Ministers and Wazeers were hand picked from Damascus... Harriri so much so disputed as diplomatically as possible with damascus but damascus rode the economic joy ride and made billions off Lebanon as Lebanon was rebuilt... AOUN was Were???? THUGS!!! WHOOOOO!!! piss off you hypocrite.

Default-user-icon Dento Fluoridien (Guest) 08 March 2012, 16:02

Rafic Syria's friends and partners, the Syrian occupiers, killed thousands of Lebanese and also made scores of Lebanese vanish. Perhaps he was working against them when, for 15 short??? years, he called their presence legal and necessary while he was busy giving them the keys to Beirut and robbing the decent Lebanese! If anyone deserves the ultimate punishment it is he, the all-time biggest collaborator with one of Lebanon's enemies. Those who punished him, regardless of who they actually are, deserve a medal of honor and the respect and appreciation of all decent Lebanese for ridding them of two filths: Rafic Syria and his friends, the Syria occupiers. Talking about hypocrites, huh!

Thumb jcamerican 07 March 2012, 20:20

No need for me to comment on this one judge. Slam dunk.

Thumb lebneneh 07 March 2012, 21:07

They are all shit...Saudi,Syrian all Lebanese. Lebanon will not be in peace until we realise that.

Thumb primesuspect 07 March 2012, 21:07

Seniora is probably a thief, a weird thing happened during his premiership. Indeed, he purchased a huge amount of land (basateen) in saïda. Where did all the millions of dollars suddenly come from? Being in politics doesnt pay that well.... Unless...... You know what.

Thumb benzona 07 March 2012, 22:32

Thumb up. I vote for Mustaqbal BUT I condemn theft and corruption. However, this faction is the ONLY ONE that doesn't have blood on its hands. A defaut de mieux....

Missing allouchi 07 March 2012, 21:21

You M8 people are really blinded by hate...what Mr. Saniora said is very simple and true...to the ones that keep bringing up support for KSA and other gulf states..are you so ignorant or just really idiots...We are talking about Syria do you understand? do you how many Lebanese from all religions and backgrounds live and prosper in the Arabic golf? what's the matter with you...Syria brutally occupied, killed and imprisoned thousands of us not KSA....think for a change.

Thumb benzona 07 March 2012, 22:30

Indeed, in Dubai, abu Dhabi.... the society isn't heterogeneous... the Non-sunni have no freedom at all. Wake-up FT, snap out of your fantasies. The syrian regime is nebulous and shady and is not any better than Saddam's.

Missing lebcan 08 March 2012, 12:35

Absolutely correct allouchi... I work in Qatar...+ thousands of us from all creeds of lebanese society who send hundreds of millions of $$$ a years back home... we should thank the GCC countries for letting us work there...

Missing servant-of-jesus 08 March 2012, 01:35

I loved the document!!!!

One comment - we should not quote out of context from the Bible:
'And complimentarily, true stability, and a better future will be accomplished through free Arab will, “so they may have life, and have it more abundantly”(John 10:10)'

It is saying that free Arab will, bringing true stability and a better future, will give us 'life, and have it more abundantly'. But actually John 10:10 says: 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.' John 10:10 NIV
So this means that JESUS came so that WE MAY HAVE LIFE ABUNDANTLY, and not 'free will' or 'true stability'. Don't misuse the word of God for political ends.

Missing servant-of-jesus 08 March 2012, 01:35

God does not side with either 8 or 14, but sides with the truth, whenever it is wherever it is (either camps), and God is against any injustice or evil of either 8 or 14. Let us learn to hold politicians accountable, and challenge injustice anywhere, and demand justice and righteousness! Let us learn to encourage what is good whenever it is done by 8 or 14, and speak against evil whenever it is done by 8 or 14! Only when we will be able to see beyond our 'loyalties' to patrons, will we be able to make Lebanon a better place for our children.

Thumb arzz 08 March 2012, 08:05

Too bad they cannot do what you say Mr Siniora. Since the syrian regime is the only one that supports then and your saudi buddies support their enemies.

Missing helicopter 08 March 2012, 04:33

Well said servant-of-jesus. You are appealing to the higher minds, bigger hearts and to the more polished souls.

Thumb arzz 08 March 2012, 08:05

Too bad they cannot do what you say Mr Siniora. Since the syrian regime is the only one that supports them and your saudi buddies support their enemies.

Thumb arzz 08 March 2012, 08:12

On second thought I think you should just shut up and quit politics. If you ever become PM again then I want to denounce my Lebanese citizenship.

Default-user-icon Gabriel (Guest) 08 March 2012, 10:38

Shame on you fellows , Seniora is as honest as the day is long ! Aoun is a thief yes , it was revealed he had over 50 million $ while he was living in Paris . No one could live there on a 2000$ a month ( Salary from the Army)

Default-user-icon May7 (Guest) 08 March 2012, 12:16

Arzz remember currently the inmates are running the Ayslum
What citizenship are you talking about