March 14 Urges Syria to Recognize Lebanon's Independence

by **Admin** Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:07 am

The ruling March 14 coalition on Thursday proclaimed the Damascus summit a failure and called on Syria to recognize Lebanon's independence and sovereignty.

"We call on Syria to recognize Lebanon's independence and sovereignty," said a memorandum by March 14 Forces addressed to Arab leaders due to meet in Damascus on Saturday.

"Any restoration of (Lebanon-Syria) relations should take into consideration Lebanon's interests," said the memorandum read by former MP Faris Soeid.

Soeid said March 14 backs the government's decision to boycott the Arab summit scheduled in Damascus March 29-30.

"The summit will be the least unsuccessful of all summits," he said.

The memorandum accused the Syrian regime of serving "one way or the other the wicked Israeli-Iranian alliance."

Soeid said the memorandum will illustrate the damage inflicted by Syria on Lebanon since former President Emile Lahoud's term was extended for three years under Syrian pressure in 2004.

Responding to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem who said Lebanon has lost golden chances by boycotting the Damascus summit, Soeid said Syria "is the one wasting opportunities."

Soeid reiterated accusations that Syria was behind the series of assassinations in Lebanon and said Damascus and its allies were also trying to "derail" Lebanon's economy.

He also accused the opposition of distorting the concept of partnership, charging that the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance was preventing presidential elections under instructions from Syria.

The memorandum called on "friendly states – taking part in the summit or not – to exert utmost pressure on the Syrian regime in a bid to put an end to its deep-rooted ambitions in Lebanon."