Moallem reveals bargain offer to Syria to exchange tribunal with presidential election

Source: Al Manar TV, 01-04-2008
The Arab initiative stipulates that Lebanese Army commander General Michel Suleiman is elected as president, a government of national unity is formed and a new electoral law is endorsed.
The US-backed ministerial bloc of Saniora, as well as western and Arab allies, accuses Syria of pressuring the opposition in Lebanon to obstruct all bids to elect a new President. Moallem, however, stressed the necessity to implement the Arab initiative as a whole package adding that no one can replace the Lebanese in solving their disputes.
Consensus over the election of General Suleiman as president was "over and done with," the Syrian foreign minister said, adding that it was now time to agree on "the basis" of forming a national unity government.
On the tribunal of international character to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Premier Martyr Rafik Hariri, Moallem revealed that Damascus has turned down bargain offer to exchange the court with presidential elections in Lebanon "The court has been used as a political tool," Moallem told the ANB television channel late Monday.
"We were told 'facilitate presidential elections and we will terminate the tribunal,'" the Syrian FM said. "We have an interest to reach the truth. We want to know the truth," he stressed. Moallem added that offers such as imposing years-long freeze on the court and prevent tribunal financing were among the bargains.