Damascus: choosing a Lebanese prime minister will be a result of Lebanese reconciliation

News reports in Damascus said on Wednesday that Syria is doing its best to show off its neutrality towards the recent legislative elections took place in Lebanon in which the Lebanese opposition achieved considerable victory, noting that this position was expressed in Syria obstinate from taking any overt stand towards various Lebanese political forces.

A well-informed Syrian source stressed that Syria honors the will of the Lebanese people and the will of those people, adding that "Syria has no representative in Lebanon, only those who are sincere to the march of national reconciliation and preserving the victory attained in South Lebanon." The Syrian source added " Syria is not with that side or this one, rather with the national choice pursued by Lebanon since 1984 and Syria's interest lies in continuing this choice and deepening it."

For his part, a western diplomat in Damascus said: " doubtless there is a new way of dealing with Lebanon since President Bashar al-Assad assumed power in Syria following the death of his late father President Hafez al-Assad on June 10." He added " since a while Syria has been given an impression that it has decreased its intervention in the Lebanese affairs and is seeking to normalize relations with this country." He also gave an example on that to the few visits made by Lebanese officials to Damascus in comparison with the past.

The foreign diplomat added " Comments noting that the winning of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri was 'victory to Syria,' are groundless," adding in this context that " this matter is futile as al-Hariri has a private house in Damascus and he most often visits Damascus."

For his part, an Arab diplomat said: " nothing prevents the establishment of cooperation between Syria and al-Hariri who previously assumed the Lebanese Cabinet leadership between 1992- 1998."

The well-informed Syrian source stressed: " Syria has no veto on any person and appointing the prime minister in Lebanon is a result of agreement between the Lebanese leaderships as a whole. There are constitutional traditions the Lebanese people are careful to preserve. This matter will take place as a result of national reconciliation."

On Monday, Syria's foreign minister Farouk al-Shara stressed that his country is not intending to " Interfere " in choosing a prime minister in Lebanon."