Al-Assad: we will withdraw our forces completely; we committed mistakes in Lebanon
Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 3/5/2005

The Syrian President Bashar al- Assad said today, Saturday, in his speech before the Syrian parliament in Damascus at 6 p.m. ( local Time) that Damascus will withdraw its forces positioned in Lebanon, fully to the Bekaa area and then to the area of the Lebanese- Syrian border area.

He explained that his country committed certain mistakes in the Lebanese arena, stressing that the Syrians should not stay one day there, if there is a Lebanese consensus on leaving it. He stressed that this withdrawal does not mean the absence of the Syrian role in Lebanon.

The Syrian president added that the UN resolution 1559 perpetuates the interference of certain foreign sides into the Lebanese affairs, stressing that there is no connection between the said resolution and extending the term of office of the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud. He explained that certain hidden items in the said resolution were prepared immediately after the war on Iraq.

On the Iraqi issue, al-Assad said "we have demanded the Americans to give evidence on their accusations against us and they did not," stressing that the stability of Iraq "has been in the forefront of our interest and therefore we have encouraged the elections and we have made everything possible to maintain Iraq's stability within the confines of available potentials."

Earlier, Lebanese political sources expected President al-Assad to have had announced withdrawal of certain forces ultimately and withdraw other forces to areas closer to its border than to the Bekaa governorate.

Prior to the speech of the Syrian President, a force from the Lebanese army was deployed yesterday in Bourevarg area in front of the headquarters of the Syrian intelligence in Beirut and in front of another headquarters in the downtown of Beirut and withdrew from the places after less one hour.

One officer in the Lebanese army said that these moves prepare for the Lebanese army to hand over positions to be evacuated by the Syrian forces.

Moreover, President Bashar al-Assad announced today that Syria will withdraw its forces based in Lebanon fully to the Bekaa region, and then to the Syrian-Lebanese borders.

"This is to complement steps that have been taken previously in the framework of the Taif agreement and in line with the UN resolution 1559," the president said in a speech before the People's Assembly.

The President added that "I agreed with President Emil Lahoud of Lebanon that the Syrian-Lebanese Supreme Council would be held during this week to ratify the pullback plan." "With the end of this procedure, Syria will be in full compliance with its commitments over the Taif agreement and would have carried out requirements of the resolution 1559, " the president said.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese Islamic Council: relations with Syria are strong   (3/4/2005)
  Syrian reinforcements in the Bekaa   (3/4/2005)
  Islamic Shiite Council defends ties with Syria   (3/3/2005)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search