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Syria Won?t Put Pressure on Lebanon Allies
Syria is unwilling to put pressure on its Lebanon allies in the crisis that has left it without a president for over a month, Information Minister Mohsen Bilal said in comments published on Monday. He was reacting to President Nicolas Sarkozy's announcement on Sunday that France would have no more contact with Syria until Damascus showed willingness to let Lebanon find a new president.
Bilal said Syria had reached agreement with France on the outlines of an overall settlement to the crisis and was prepared to use its influence but not put pressure on the Lebanese national opposition to accept the deal. "If people are asking us to put pressure on Syria's friends, we have made no agreement to do that," the minister told the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat. "We have reached agreement with the French and with our friends on a package deal to arrive at an overall settlement. ?We are using our influence with those who like us in Lebanon to proceed to the election of a consensus candidate.?
Bilal said Syria had reached agreement with France on the outlines of an overall settlement to the crisis and was prepared to use its influence but not put pressure on the Lebanese national opposition to accept the deal. "If people are asking us to put pressure on Syria's friends, we have made no agreement to do that," the minister told the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat. "We have reached agreement with the French and with our friends on a package deal to arrive at an overall settlement. ?We are using our influence with those who like us in Lebanon to proceed to the election of a consensus candidate.?
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Kouchner has made seven visits to Beirut in the space of six months to shuttle between the ruling bloc and the Lebanese national opposition. Washington has also sent a senior envoy to try to broker a deal. On Friday, a parliament session called to elect a president was postponed until January 12, the 11th time that a vote had been put off.
Bilal said Syria remained willing to work with France for a solution despite Sarkozy's comments. "We didn't interpret them as an implicit accusation. Relations have been continuing until now despite the comments and we are working with the French to extricate Lebanon from this crisis."