Rice Takes Uncompromising Stance that Syria Must Leave Lebanon

NaharNet
Incoming U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has taken an
uncompromising stance about the termination of Syria's dominance of Lebanon,
asserting to Congress that U.N. Resolution 1559 "tells the Syrians that the
world expects them to begin withdrawing their forces from Lebanon and to
halt terrorism from there."
"Lebanon can be a stronghold of democracy in the Middle East and that's why
we have to take interest in what happens in Lebanon," Rice said, answering
questions at a meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held to
confirm her as Colin Powell's successor once Bush's second term in the White
House begins on Thursday.

Rice described Syria as a "non-constructive force" and said the Assad regime
was "risking long-range strained relations" with the United States, hinting
that added sanctions would be clamped against Syria. An Nahar highlighted
Rice's remark on Lebanon on page-one on Wednesday.

She said Security Council Resolution 1559 which was co-sponsored by the
United States and France was a "very important accomplishment. It tells the
Syrians that the world expects them to respect Lebanon's legitimate
sovereignty and begin withdrawing their forces and halt terrorism from
there."

An Nahar's Washington correspondent Hisham Milhem noted that Rice erred in
referring to the number of the U.N. resolution. She said resolution 1546
instead of 1559. Rice's quotes have been transliterated into English from
Milhem's Arabic version.(See Middle East section for Rice's policy on other
issues.)