Mouallem: Shibaa Farms are Lebanese ~ “Israel” must withdraw from the territory
Source: nowlebanon.com, 10-07-2008
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem denied any Syrian interference in the formation of the government in Lebanon and expressed hope that the Lebanese cabinet will be formed very soon.
"Not establishing the government in Lebanon will have a negative impact on Lebanon and Syria, and there are a lot of people who do not wish well for both countries," Mouallem told OTV Wednesday night.
"I say to those delaying the establishment of the government: Don't make mistakes, because it will not influence President Michel Suleiman's upcoming visit to Paris" to participate in the Mediterranean Union Summit, Mouallem said.
Mouallem abstained from commenting on the some Lebanese parties' calls to bring down the Syrian regime. "We consider ourselves to be dealing with a country."
He noted that nothing is preventing PM Fouad Saniora from visiting Damascus if he is presiding over a national-unity government.
"No matter what the level of disputes between officials, it cannot eliminate the ties between the Lebanese and Syrian people," Mouallem said.
The Syrian FM noted his country's role in the Doha Agreement. "In order for Lebanon to continue, a solution that guarantees no winner and no loser is a must, because no one can completely eradicate a sect, and everyone must participate in the decision-making process."
He also reiterated his call for establishing diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria, which he said Damascus has wanted since 2005, and which will become possible after the establishment of the national-unity government. "We are ready to discuss all the agreements that have been signed between Lebanon and Syria."
Mouallem welcomed the release of the Lebanese detainees from ‘Israeli' jails and said that the whole world is overlooking the Kfar Shouba Hills and only brings up the Shibaa Farms when speaking of Israeli occupation.
"Since 2006, I have told PM Fouad Saniora that we support the option of putting the Shibaa Farms under UN supervision," Mouallem said.
"The Shibaa Farms are Lebanese, and ‘Israel' must withdraw from the territory. There is a difference between saying that the farms are Lebanese and drawing the border in the occupied land."
On the subject of Hizbullah's arsenal, Mouallem said that it was an internal Lebanese issue, and "we support any agreement reached by Lebanese over this matter."
Mouallem said that he didn't understand the expression President Suleiman used in his inaugural address, "relations among equals between the two countries."
"I understand the expression ‘relations that serve the interests of both states,' or ‘relations on the same footing.' However, the expression ‘relations among equals between the two countries' is new to me within my diplomatic experience."
On the Palestinian issue, Mouallem said that Lebanon cannot handle the permanent settlement of hundreds of thousands of refugees. "Those talking about Palestinian settlement, whether in Lebanon or outside Lebanon, do not wish to see a comprehensive solution in the region."
Commenting on the controversial incidents in the Syrian Saydnaya prison, Mouallem explained that some extremists who were captured while crossing from Iraq to Syria had kidnapped inmates in the prison in order to negotiate with the authorities.
"Now the situation is under control, and the incident did not result in too many casualties or wounded. However, the timing of this incident is important and reveals lots of signs," Mouallem said.
He also noted that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is being used as a tool to apply political pressure on certain parties. "Now the international mood has changed, and they want a tribunal based on evidence."
Mouallem expressed fears over the latest violence that has been sweeping across Tripoli and said he hopes that the Lebanese army can control the situation.
"Syria does not want to return to Lebanon, neither on the military nor the security level. We are very content now, more than ever, and we are seeking ‘relations among equals between the two countries,'" he said.
Commenting on his relation with MP Michel Aoun, who owns the television station on which the interview was broadcast, Mouallem said that the latter managed to overcome his past after the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and called for turning a new page with Damascus.
"We have no direct contacts with him, but we appreciate his stances, which are clear. Dealing with him is very easy. We want to continue contacts with him, but so far, such contacts do not exist," Mouallem concluded.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem denied any Syrian interference in the formation of the government in Lebanon and expressed hope that the Lebanese cabinet will be formed very soon.
"Not establishing the government in Lebanon will have a negative impact on Lebanon and Syria, and there are a lot of people who do not wish well for both countries," Mouallem told OTV Wednesday night.
"I say to those delaying the establishment of the government: Don't make mistakes, because it will not influence President Michel Suleiman's upcoming visit to Paris" to participate in the Mediterranean Union Summit, Mouallem said.
Mouallem abstained from commenting on the some Lebanese parties' calls to bring down the Syrian regime. "We consider ourselves to be dealing with a country."
He noted that nothing is preventing PM Fouad Saniora from visiting Damascus if he is presiding over a national-unity government.
"No matter what the level of disputes between officials, it cannot eliminate the ties between the Lebanese and Syrian people," Mouallem said.
The Syrian FM noted his country's role in the Doha Agreement. "In order for Lebanon to continue, a solution that guarantees no winner and no loser is a must, because no one can completely eradicate a sect, and everyone must participate in the decision-making process."
He also reiterated his call for establishing diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria, which he said Damascus has wanted since 2005, and which will become possible after the establishment of the national-unity government. "We are ready to discuss all the agreements that have been signed between Lebanon and Syria."
Mouallem welcomed the release of the Lebanese detainees from ‘Israeli' jails and said that the whole world is overlooking the Kfar Shouba Hills and only brings up the Shibaa Farms when speaking of Israeli occupation.
"Since 2006, I have told PM Fouad Saniora that we support the option of putting the Shibaa Farms under UN supervision," Mouallem said.
"The Shibaa Farms are Lebanese, and ‘Israel' must withdraw from the territory. There is a difference between saying that the farms are Lebanese and drawing the border in the occupied land."
On the subject of Hizbullah's arsenal, Mouallem said that it was an internal Lebanese issue, and "we support any agreement reached by Lebanese over this matter."
Mouallem said that he didn't understand the expression President Suleiman used in his inaugural address, "relations among equals between the two countries."
"I understand the expression ‘relations that serve the interests of both states,' or ‘relations on the same footing.' However, the expression ‘relations among equals between the two countries' is new to me within my diplomatic experience."
On the Palestinian issue, Mouallem said that Lebanon cannot handle the permanent settlement of hundreds of thousands of refugees. "Those talking about Palestinian settlement, whether in Lebanon or outside Lebanon, do not wish to see a comprehensive solution in the region."
Commenting on the controversial incidents in the Syrian Saydnaya prison, Mouallem explained that some extremists who were captured while crossing from Iraq to Syria had kidnapped inmates in the prison in order to negotiate with the authorities.
"Now the situation is under control, and the incident did not result in too many casualties or wounded. However, the timing of this incident is important and reveals lots of signs," Mouallem said.
He also noted that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is being used as a tool to apply political pressure on certain parties. "Now the international mood has changed, and they want a tribunal based on evidence."
Mouallem expressed fears over the latest violence that has been sweeping across Tripoli and said he hopes that the Lebanese army can control the situation.
"Syria does not want to return to Lebanon, neither on the military nor the security level. We are very content now, more than ever, and we are seeking ‘relations among equals between the two countries,'" he said.
Commenting on his relation with MP Michel Aoun, who owns the television station on which the interview was broadcast, Mouallem said that the latter managed to overcome his past after the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and called for turning a new page with Damascus.
"We have no direct contacts with him, but we appreciate his stances, which are clear. Dealing with him is very easy. We want to continue contacts with him, but so far, such contacts do not exist," Mouallem concluded.
