Syria Wears New Face in Lebanon, Opposition Demands 2-Stage Exit

Naharnet

Syria is trying to wear a new face in Lebanon, shedding the coercive approach of its dreaded military intelligence apparatus in favor of persuasive diplomacy superintended by former Syrian ambassador to Washington Walid Moallem. The ongoing change of image is seemingly dictated by the heaviest wave of Lebanese resentment of Syria's highhandedness ever since it sent its army in 1976 to halt a civil war that, nonetheless, raged on for 14 ravaging years. This resentment has been coupled with an international drive to get Syria out of Lebanon altogether, which was accentuated by Security Council resolution 1559 that called for a total military pullout and the disarmament of Hizbullah. Moallem, who has been promoted by President Assad to the post of deputy foreign minister, has been in Beirut Tuesday and Wednesday for meetings with top officials of the Lahoud regime as well as leaders of the opposition, saying "Syria stands at the same distance from all in Lebanon." Moallem held separate rounds of talks with President Lahoud, Premier Karami, Speaker Berri and Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud as well as ex-Premier Hariri and opposition leaders Butros Harb and Nassib Lahoud, who served as Lebanon's ambassador to Washington at the time Moallem was Syria's top diplomat in the United States. Harb and Nassib Lahoud met with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir at his seat in Bkirki Tuesday and then attended luncheon thrown for Moallem by Lebanon's Vice Premier Issam Fares. "We told him that the crux of the matter is the lifting of trusteeship and the restoration by Lebanon of its sovereignty, independence and free decision," Nassib Lahoud said in a statement. "This is the central issue. Otherwise the crisis remains." Lahoud said "a total Syrian withdrawal in a short period is a must." This withdrawal, he suggested, could be carried out in two stages, the first before the spring elections to the Bekaa Valley and the second out of Lebanon altogether after the elections within the framework of a clear timetable "negotiated by a national union government not the current government." Moallem then met with ex-President Amin Gemayel, who said he asserted the stance of the Lebanese opposition on the restoration of Lebanon's freedom and sovereignty. The Syrian coordinator plans to hold more round of talks with Lebanese politicians Wednesday.(Photo shows Gemayel welcoming Moallem)