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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syria threatens UN if observers deployed along Lebanese border
2007-04-24
Syria has reiterated its warning against the possibility of deploying U.N. observers along its border with Lebanon, saying such a move would sabotage Lebanese-Syrian relations.

The threat came as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon started a delicate mission to Syria for talks with President Bashar Assad on the planned international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes.

The daily As Safir on Tuesday, citing Lebanese officials who visited Damascus on the eve of Ban's trip, said the Syrian leadership has cautioned against "stationing civilian or military U.N. observers along the Syrian border because this would certainly lead to measures (to be taken) by Syria that will not be in the interest of either country or people."

"If there is a desire to improve (Lebanon-Syrian) relations Â…. this should take place by mutual consent," one source told As Safir.

The source quoted the Syrian leadership as saying that no world power "would then be able to force Syria to establish brotherly relations with Lebanon when a political war is being launched against it by some forces in the Lebanese ruling majority."

Damascus also opposes the planned deployment of U.N. observers on the Lebanon-Syria border to prevent the movement of arms to Hizbullah which last summer fought a 34-day with Israel.
Assad to the US: "Send more Congressional delegations!"
Syrian daily Al Watan said that "if the goal ... is to convince Syria to accept the international tribunal and deployment of the international force, the results could be the same as those of U.N. legal adviser Nicolas Michel to Beirut."
Posted by:mrp

#9  Seriously, why would anyone be concerned about an UN Observer? They won't get past the air condition cab of their Range Rover. That is, unless there's a The Palm Restaurant nearby.
Posted by: DragonFly   2007-04-24 22:20  

#8  LEBANON proper is a sovereign independent nation, or it isn't. ISRAEL isn't gonna stop intervening in Lebanon until it knows every other anti-Israeli nation in the region will do the same and leave Lebanon alone.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-04-24 20:49  

#7  The French need a war they can win to restore their national pride. A war in defense of the UN, against an ex colony might just be the ticket. Syrian support for Hezbollah who truck-bombed the French Peacekeeperss in '83 should be pretext enough anyway.

A show of Navy force along the coast combined with Foreign Legion driving into Ba'aka and paratroopers dropping into Damascus to support a pre-selected strongman. I believe this is doable and it should have been requested on Sept 12th.

I bet Assad plays a different tune after the French elections.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2007-04-24 20:07  

#6  this is a Lebanese sovereignty issue. The UN, UNSC, US, et al, should tell the Syrians to f*ck off, and ENFORCE that
Posted by: Frank G   2007-04-24 19:43  

#5  Syria has reiterated its warning against the possibility of deploying U.N. observers along its border with Lebanon, saying such a move would sabotage Lebanese-Syrian relations.

Of course it would. Syria's idea of the border is that it should be like New York and Pennsylvania, or Cook County and Lake County, {Illinois} - no obstacle to Syrians.
Posted by: Bobby   2007-04-24 15:35  

#4  #3. "i wouldnt bet the farm on popcorn concessions... the syrians vs the french is a race to see who can surrender the fastest."

I won't sell the popcorn concession just yet, Abu dyl - that could be quite entertaining.

In a train-wreck sort of way. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-04-24 15:10  

#3  i wouldnt bet the farm on popcorn concessions...

the syrians vs the french is a race to see who can surrender the fastest.
Posted by: Abu do you love   2007-04-24 13:24  

#2  Syrian vs. French.

Damn, that is hard. Is the Legion involved?
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-04-24 13:03  

#1  The Syrians v the French? Your popcorn concession is going to go through the roof if that happens.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2007-04-24 12:27  

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