The Guardians of the Cedars -The Movement of Lebanese Nationalism issued the following communiqué:
In a letter it addressed last week to the United Nations, the Syrian government objected to what it called Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's "interference" in the bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria, and said that demanding Syria's cooperation to dismantle the Palestinian sites along the Lebanese-Syrian borders is "not understood", and that Syria did not want to "intervene" in matters that are strictly within the jurisdiction of the Lebanese government. It also reiterated its rejection of references in international reports to the delineation of the borders because this issue is a "secondary matter between the two brotherly countries," and said that the Secretary General's claims of weapons smuggling into Lebanon, "is an odd matter and a lie unsubstantiated by evidence." It lastly warned the United Nations against siding with one party against the other in Lebanon, because this will jeopardize the "achievements" that were made thanks to the arduous efforts that Syria exerted "out of concern for Lebanon's unity, security, stability, sovereignty and independence...."
A careful reading of this letter confirms that the hegemonic complex that Syria has vis-à-vis Lebanon still governs the Syrian regime which has not ceased, for the length of 40 years, from trying to seize this country and isolate it from the eyes and ears of the international community.
After it was forced to withdraw its army and end its occupation of Lebanon in 2005, Syria has now decided to return to it, but this time indirectly and using the following means: First, Deploy Palestinian forces affiliated with it inside Lebanese territories and along the length of the Syrian-Lebanese borders. Second, boost the military arsenal of its top ally, the so-called Hezbollah, such that the number of various size missiles is now several multiples more than what it had in the July 2006 war. Third, activate its sleeper security cells that are disseminated throughout the Lebanese regions and which are ready to act on demand. Fourth: offer full support to its political bases in Lebanon represented by political figures allied with it and political parties operating in its orbit.
Syrian influence has thus returned to its previous glory in Lebanon, and the Lebanese regime has reverted to submitting itself to the will of the Syrian regime. The political active forces have resumed their crawling on the road to Damascus as was the case during the custody era, and Damascus now has a big say in designing Lebanon's policies and defining the process of their implementation.
Yet, the success of the Syrian regime in returning "triumphantly" to Lebanon will remain diminished as long as the international community continues to support Lebanon and reiterate its demands for upholding the country's sovereignty and implementing UN resolutions, particularly those pertaining to the disarming of Lebanese and non-Lebanese organizations, delineating the borders, interdict weapons smuggling...etc. This is what explains the annoyance of Damascus at the periodic international reports issued by the UN Secretary General on the Lebanese question, and its desperate attempt to hinder and defuse their impact by all means necessary, including: the letter mentioned above, the implicit threats to destabilize Lebanon, the farce of agreeing to a diplomatic exchange with Beirut, which remains no more than a symbolic gesture, and will predictably and indefinitely remain so.
Those honorable Lebanese who denounce and oppose Syria's expansionist policies are also denouncing even more the politicians who have perfected the art of evasiveness, fence-sitting, the selling of their country, the humiliating bowing at the doorsteps of the Damascus ruler, and allowing him to interfere in every little detail of Lebanon's affairs, both internal and external, in exchange for bolstering their own personal power at the expense of the State's authority and the higher interest of Lebanon.
Lebanon will continue to suffer the Syrian regime's imperialist ambitions and its condescending policy until the Syrian regime changes from a dictatorial regime to a democratic regime. Until such time, Lebanon will remain in dire need for intensive and effective care by the UN and the international community in general, and the friendly nations in particular.
Lebanon, at your service
Abu Arz