Syria and Lebanon; a Tale of an Abusive Relationship

Filed under: Lebanon, Middle East, Syria — Michael van der Galien, Editor-in-Chief on June 7, 2008 @ 6:00 pm CEST

‘Damascus and Beirut are heading toward normalization and full diplomatic relations for the first time in their modern history, which the Lebanese expect will usher in a relationship based on mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and the Syrians hope will improve their ties with the rest of the world,’ the ME Times reports.

Damascus is said to be waiting for the Lebanese to form a new unity government before normalizing relations by opening embassies and exchanging ambassadors.

Syrian President Bashar Assad made a point of speaking to journalists during his visit to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait this week, telling them that he was ready to open an embassy in the Lebanese capital once a unity government is formed in Beirut.

“Obviously, if there is a unity government that represents all the Lebanese parties, then our ties with it will be good,” Assad told Kuwaiti newspapers Thursday. “When these circumstances are in place, we will hopefully soon exchange embassies with Lebanon.”

Prime Minister designate Fouad Siniora has been in the process of forming a new cabinet since the Lebanese rivals reached an accord in Doha last month, ending an 18-month explosive crisis between the pro-Western ruling coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition that had paralyzed the country and occasionally threatened to erupt into civil strife.

The Qatari-brokered deal had called for a unity government that gave the Syrian-backed opposition veto power and led to the election of President Michel Suleiman, the former army chief, finally filling a seat that had been vacant since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud’s term expired in November.

Assad said his country had raised the issue of establishing diplomatic ties in 2005 “in light of new circumstances … but it was not appropriate to open an embassy at a time when relations with Lebanon were not good.”

This is hilarious. It’s like an abusive husband beating up his wife until she’s hospitalized, after which he says: “OK honey, now we can have a good and fruitful relationship.”

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1 lwestin

June 8, 2008 @ 3:52 am CEST

exactly.

2 Albert Samtu

June 8, 2008 @ 4:32 pm CEST

Exactly NOT..The analogy about the abusive husband or wife have nothing to do with Internatinal Diplomatic Protocol. The absence of an embassy is not synonymous with absence of respect to sovereignty. Syria was invited to intervene on behalf of right wing Christians, by the then government of Lebanon, with U.N. and A.L. blessing. Why is it that Lebanon and Israel don’t exchange Embassies. Israel abused (and still does) Lebanese sovereignty for 22 years. They still violate Lebanon’s airspace and territorial waters at will, and still occupy the Shebaa farms.

Assuming that Hizballah is an extension of he Syrian presence, they are the party that prevented another civil war. They could have easily eradicated the government of Saniora, who was doing the bidding for Israeli/American plans for hegemony in the Region. They did not. And that is good enough proof that Syria and Hizballah are not abusive of Lebanon’s sovereignty. They are Lebanon’s protection from the sharks that are waiting for the opportunity to turn it into a base for Imperialist projects in the Middle East.