Assad Criticizes Dissociation Policy despite Lebanon's Presence in 'Circle of Fire'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Syrian President Bashar Assad has allegedly criticized Lebanon's policy of dissociation from the Syrian war and hailed the nomination of Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam.
“I don't understand what this policy means. Is it meant to transfer Lebanon to the African continent and keeping it there until the Syrian crisis ends?” a delegation from Lebanese pro-Syrian parties that visited Assad in Damascus quoted him as saying.
“How could someone dissociate himself if he was in the circle of fire and the blaze was approaching him?” Assad allegedly wondered.
Lebanese authorities have officially followed the policy to distance the country from the Syrian conflict. But they have also been reluctant to publicly blame either regime forces or rebel fighters for fire hitting villages and towns near the border with Syria.
The Syrian civil war erupted in March 2011 when peaceful demonstrations against the regime turned violent after troops loyal to Assad quelled them by using force.
The war continues to take a heavy toll on civilians. More than 5 million Syrians have fled their homes because of the relentless fighting, seeking shelter in neighboring countries or in other parts of Syria where the violence has temporarily subsided.
During his meeting with the delegation, Assad allegedly discussed with the recent appointment of Salam as PM-designate without mentioning him by name.
“Ancient nationalistic families should return” to the Grand Serail, the delegation quoted him as saying.
Salam, a 67-year-old Beirut MP, is the son of former Prime Minister Saeb Salam, who had served six times as prime minister between 1952 and 1973.
Saeb Salam was known as a staunch Arab nationalist and is remembered for saying “one Lebanon, not two.”
The PM-designate's grandfather was also a deputy in the Ottoman parliament and a nationalist figure during the French colonial mandate.
“In Lebanon, we care for the people who still hold onto the special relations with Syria,” the delegation quoted Assad as saying.
He also allegedly lauded Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, Marada movement chief lawmaker Suleiman Franjieh and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
“Those leaders have a nationalistic spirit, a broad vision and deep thoughts,” Assad said.
22 April 2013, 08:29
44
That in Lebanon there are still those whose allegiance remains to outside countries like Syria, Iran, SA or any other external entity or counteyy is reprehensible. Do we really need any external figure, least of all someone like Assad, running our country again? Have we not learned that no one else would care for Lebanon as us Lebanese would?
This pompous dictator will never again rule Syria as before. It is regrettable that this delegation went to Syria to meet with him. Little wonder the world dose not take Lebanese politicians seriously. What a shame.
22 April 2013, 18:48
00
I didn't see who the delgation was in the article above so I here it is. Let wait and see their actions in the coming days.
The visiting Lebanese delegation was composed of notable pro-Assad figures and parties from all sects, including Hussein Khalil, the political aide of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah; caretaker State Minister Ali Qanso; former minister Abdel-Rahim Mrad; Free
Patriotic Movement MP Selim Aoun; Baath MP Assem Qanso; the secretary-general of Harakat al-Umma, Sheikh Abdel-Nasser al-Jabri; and others
22 April 2013, 08:58
104
The dissociation policy is nothing but a piece of paper until the February 14 Saudi-Wahabi coalition stops its export of arms, funds, and fighters to Syria to wage "jihad" against "kuffar" and until the FSA-Al Qaeda terrorists stop invading and terrorizing Lebanon.
22 April 2013, 16:47
15
funny how FT criticizes M14 for smuggling arms to syria but finds it totally normal when arms are smuggled into lebanon to the hezbis...he finds it normal that hezbis fight in syria but criticizes saqr who "helped" the rebels... why is he sooooooo angry about that? LOL! DOUBLE M8 standards as usual making them totally not credible and stupid....
a real comic....
22 April 2013, 09:20
47
He also allegedly lauded Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, Marada movement chief lawmaker Suleiman Franjieh and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.............. he named only few sheeople (there are many mmore but not as important).
22 April 2013, 09:51
56
this so called Lebanese delegation should be tried as traitors.
22 April 2013, 11:45
63
Bashar & Co . M8 &Co HA & Co, well we are with you all the way !! Full Stop , what better options do we have ? None . The Jihadist Sunnis dead Sh..ts are at our door , from all over the world , whether black , brown, or yellow .... These extremists are destroying our way of life , just recently a good example is the Boston Marathon ! We all need to pull our resources & allies together to stop these fanatics in their tracks , we all know what these terrorists are doing in Syria , the region & the rest of the world . KSA as well as the GCC states should take full responsibility for their actions , reason been they are supplying money as well as weapons to these extremists Sunnis ! It is a known fact that cannot be denied . Malek Abdullah is the main instigator of these terrorists ! Not only his hands should cut off but also his head ! Saad Harriri you are as guilty with the other Shiekhs of all the oil producing kingdoms , Chavez was right in his speech at the UN.
22 April 2013, 14:32
33
Josh i should remind you that Christianity spread itself through war and killing! chrisitans barely existed until the Roman Caesar converted to christianity after thinking it was what lead him to victory in battle (contradictory to christian faith of peace) and forced the empire to convert. after that europe send crusades to conquer arabs and convert them and at home persecuted all other religions. the spanish forced phillipine and south america by war and killing to convert! the english and french forced north america to convert by killing. up to the 1970's Natives in parts of Canada were still forced to send their children away to Christian dorm schools where they were abused greatly! now that Most chrisitans aren't killing to convert people christianity is on the decline! most religions spread by war, most people don't convert to a foreign religion if not forced!!! you are very racist and with a puny brain btw
22 April 2013, 14:33
42
Shiaa's are almost identical to Sunni's in REligious believes and how it got spread!
22 April 2013, 16:49
01
lol! so you are criticizing the syrian regime who CANNOT stand against israel but let hezbis do the job while they are at a safe distance andletting lebanon be destroyed for their interests.... bravo!
22 April 2013, 20:42
02
yep. Like I said above. I'm wondering what words and actions we will see in the coming days from the delegation that visited this mass murderer.
22 April 2013, 23:12
02
M8 thugs on here: isnt this the same giraffe that sent sma7a to terrorize lebanon? do you even care?
23 April 2013, 00:28
00
هذه سياسة النأي بالنفس هي الخلاص للبنان فإذا تمكنت الدولة أن تسيطر على أراضيها و غض النظر عن القوى المتدخلة في الأزمة السورية فيصبح لبنان جنة و لكن الواقع مختلف و اللبناني كل شيء إلا لبناني و نادراً ما يوجد لبناني وطني و لا يعبد أموال الدول الخارجية و كدلك كل زعماءكم و مشايخكم الكل يتاجر بأنفسكم
23 April 2013, 03:50
01
Is that why the priest who baptized an adult Shiite woman in Baalbek was kidnapped and not release until the girl was sent back to her family for sure death or torture? HA worked out the exchange. But HA is not Sunni soi why did they do that?
