On the Syrian presence in Lebanon

The London Ð based al-Hayat daily on Sunday quoted a Lebanese official source as saying that most of those who lead the campaigns calling for the pullout of the Syrian army from Lebanon realize more than any others that they have no international nor regional prospect for their moves, and therefore they will not find one who sympathize with their calls, adding that those ( leaders of the campaigns) seek to impose a political condition that pushes foreign sides to side with them in their position.

In a statement to the paper from Beirut, the Lebanese official unveiled that most ambassadors accredited to Lebanon, including the ambassadors of major states avoid in their meetings with the Lebanese officials to debate the issue of the Syrian presence and that the US ambassador Satter- Field concentrates in his talks on the need of controlling the security conditions in south Lebanon, in that what is of concern to Washington is not to have great security violations taking place in South Lebanon, and that the US ambassador tries to recommend those who call for the pullout of the Syrian army to calm down and not to be in a hurry.

The Lebanese source indicated that the consent of the Arab states at the recent Amman's summit Lebanon to host the forthcoming summit in 2001 has a political meaning that exceeds what is declared, on that these Arab states are not ready to open the file of the Syrian presence in Lebanon.

The source explained that some of those who lead the campaign against Syria start from personal consideration limited to their desire to weaken Syria and to make other sides concerned aware that nothing will be maintained at the level of economic developments and investments as long as they are outside the political structure of the country.