On the Syrian presence in Lebanon

The Qatari daily al-Watan has quoted a Syrian official it described as well-informed that the current heated debate in Lebanon relating to the Syrian military presence concerns Syria only to the extent it might affect the firmly established relations between the " leaderships of the two sisterly countries."

In a statement to the Qatari daily al-Watan issued on Saturday, the Syrian official added the question of withdrawal from lebanon is not usually discussed through the mass media and in the street. he said "This issue is to be studied and evaluated by the Presidents of the two countries," noting that nobody in Lebanon representing the rule and the legitimacy asked Syria to pullout its forces.

He added that the Syrian military presence in Lebanon is " temporary and will be made when reasons behind it are eliminated."

On Damascus's readiness to open a dialogue with Sfeir ( the Maronite patriarch) and to receive Walid Junblat ( member of parliament ), the Syrian official stressed that Syrian stand at the same distance from all Lebanese and Damascus's doors are open before all Lebanese.