Lebanese denounce Assad's disrespectful speech
By Ya Libnan
Beirut - The Syrian President delivered a speech at the University of Damascus in which he attacked Lebanon and its leadership. The speech was denounced by most Lebanese; some even called it "a declaration of war on Lebanon."
Fouad Siniora, Lebanon's prime minister, on Friday shrugged off the scathing comments by Syrian president Bashar al-Assad who called the Lebanese politician "slave of a slave" during his speech on Thursday, a reference to his ties to Saad Hariri (son of former PM Rafik Hariri) and to the Hariri Family relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President Chirac of France.
A very calm and mature Siniora said he would "let these words pass" but added that ties between the two countries had to be based on mutual respect. Many people came out of their offices in the heart of Beirut to cheer Siniora as he arrived to attend Friday prayers at a local mosque.
Lebanese newspapers reacted strongly to Assad's speech that harshly criticized Lebanon's government and parliament. Almost all the Lebanese newspapers reprinted the speech in full and published lengthy commentaries mostly denouncing Assad's harsh language.
An-Nahar newspaper and Ya Libnan called Assad's address "a declaration of war against Lebanon."
L'Orient-Le Jour, the French-language paper, wrote that Assad was seeking to provoke strife in Lebanon.
During his speech Assad claimed that Lebanon had become a "passageway, a factory and a financier" of conspiracies against Syria, in effect accusing Beirut of siding with the West against it.
He accused Lebanese politicians of being "blood merchants" exploiting the blood of the assassinated politicians to make political gains.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said insults to the Prime Minister of Lebanon are unacceptable, especially when they come from the outside. He praised Siniora and assured him of his complete and continued support.
Presidential aspirant Butros Harb also took Assad to task for charging that Lebanon had turned into a haven of conspiracies against Syria since it withdrew its army last April. "He knows before anyone else that Lebanon is absolutely incapable of threatening Syria's security. It is the other way around," Harb said.
Saad Hariri's bloc in parliament has also rejected Assad's abuse after a meeting it held at Koreitem Saturday evening. The 38-strong bloc, which is the biggest in Lebanon's 128-seat parliament, renewed in a statement after the meeting its unequivocal confidence in PM Siniora's honesty and statesmanship and Arab patriotism.
It backed anew Saad Hariri's declaration that Rafik Hariri's blood would never be in any political compromise or bargaining, reasserting the determination and that of the Hariri family to bring the assassins to justice at all costs.
"We also reject attempts to intimidate and cast doubt about the UN investigation commission. Rafik Hariri has been a shining icon as a ruler and no one will be allowed to absolve his killers from guilt and from punishment," the statement said.
MP Walid Jumblatt said "This [language and criticism] is unbecoming of the president of Syria. PM Siniora is a statesman who protected the Taif Accord and is one of Rafik Hariri's political heirs," added the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party whose bloc in Parliament is aligned with the Future Tide bloc.
"It is our right, Saad Hariri and I, to get to the truth of Rafik Hariri's murder and it is our right to call on the Syrian regime to cooperate with the international investigation," Jumblatt said.
Jumblatt called for calm and unity, hinting that Assad's speech could divide the Lebanese and could have far reaching effect on the stability in Lebanon.
Assad's disrespect to Lebanon
Assad continued to question Lebanon's patriotism and its Arab Affiliation. He also continues to accuse Lebanon of its intent to sign a peace agreement with Israel.Assad seemed to forget very quickly that Lebanon is the only Arab country that was able to force Israel to pull out from its occupied territories. Lebanon has set an example to all the Arabs in liberating their land. Lebanon therefore does not need any blood tests to prove its Arab nationality nor its patriotism. No country in the Arab world paid a higher price for its patriotism and support for the Arab cause than Lebanon did and we will continue to be proud Arabs.
Assad therefore should show much more respect to Lebanon. He has a lot to learn from Lebanon and the Lebanese. A relationship built on mutual respect will benefit both countries ... We both need each other, but should behave as friends and not brothers.
Mehlis report
Relations between Syria and Lebanon have been tense since the murder in February of Hariri, Lebanon's former prime minister. The killing was blamed on Syria, and while it maintained its innocence, Damascus ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon in April due to the popular uprising (the Cedar Revolution) and international pressure.
Last month a UN probe determined that there was "converging evidence" pointing to the involvement of Syria and its Lebanese allies in the plot.
Detlev Mehlis, the chief UN investigator, is seeking to interview six Syrian officials including Assef Shawkat, president Assad's brother-in-law and head of military intelligence.