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| Putin Tells Saniora Moscow Deeply Concerned About Lebanon |
| 2006-12-15 |
| Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora met with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in a bid to get Moscow to pressure Syria over political unrest in Beirut, seen by the Lebanese official a Damascus-backed coup attempt. The Lebanese premier arrived late Thursday in Moscow as supporters of Hizbullah maintained a sit-in in Beirut against his government. Putin told Saniora in the Kremlin that Moscow was deeply concerned about the "difficult internal political situation that has arisen in Lebanon. We hope that our Lebanese friends can resolve all problems." However, the Russian leader made no direct reference to the controversial role of Syria, with which Russia has close political and economic links, including in the sale of weapons. "We are for the regularization of relations with Syria. I think Russia can exert some pressure in this direction," Saniora told reporters upon arrival in Moscow Thursday evening, Interfax news agency reported. Saniora's arch rival, Syrian President Bashar Assad, is due to fly to the Russian capital on Monday for a three-day visit, sparking suggestions that Russian President Vladimir Putin may attempt to broker a deal between the two leaders. Gee, I thought the Arab League had this thing all wrapped up, unless ... "The Lebanese have no alternative to dialogue," Saniora said. "We mustn't allow the country to split." Hizbullah has demanded a veto-wielding one-third of the cabinet plus one seat. Saniora has rejected this and continued to convene meetings of the cabinet, from which six pro-Hizbullah ministers resigned last month. Arab League chief Amr Moussa said Thursday that the Saniora administration and the Hizbullah-led alliance have agreed on a national unity government in which major decisions could be taken only by consensus. After Bashar's 3-day visit, things may change. More dialogue, more threats, more Dem senators in Damascus, ... Saniora's allies also want the pro-Hizbullah factions to allow the parliament to ratify a U.N. plan for an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. Hizbullah has given only qualified support to the tribunal and has insisted that the cabinet be restructured first.Totalitarian SOP. Saniora pushed for setting up the Special International Tribunal for Lebanon upon his arrival in Moscow. "We want objectivity and freedom, so that the Lebanese people don't fear terror attacks and political killings," he told reporters, according to Interfax. Moscow could play a role in reassuring Assad, whose government opposes the tribunal and fears that U.N. investigators will uncover links between top Syrian officials and Hariri's killers. Interesting sentence - without a mention of how this "reassurance" could be effected. What "role" could Putin play? Moscow is eager to reassert its influence in the Middle East, which has declined since the collapse of the Soviet Union. As its chief arms supplier, Russia is recognized as having some influence over Syria, its main ally in the region.Ahh. Like China's influence over North Korea? "Saniora has come knocking on the door to the one country that has privileged contacts with Iran -- where Western powers have none -- and also with Syria and Israel," said Yevgeny Satanovsky, head of the Middle East Institute in Moscow. "Privileged" contacts with the ayatollahs and their retainers. The "one country", the Third Rome, buddy-buddy with the blood-thirstiest nation in the Middle East. What an honor. So maybe Moscow and their arms-dealin' competitor China are stinking up the Iranian sanctions thing in order to maintain their exclusive "contacts" with Iran? "Russia once again has a strong position in the region and can play the role of mediator," Satanovsky added. Dem senators are booking their flights to Moscow soonest. According to Saniora, Moscow could play a key role because Russia "not only supports Lebanon, but the whole Arab people.... This fact is very important for us," ITAR-TASS reported. But not the Persians, Fouad? It ain't much, but he does the best with what he's got. He singled out what he said had been Russia's diplomatic influence in pressing for an end to Israel's summer war on Lebanon, sparked by a Hizubllah cross-border attack into Israel. "Russia gave political support to Lebanon this summer and did everything to end this terrible war." News hitherto unreported. Ahead of the trip, Lebanon's ambassador to Russia said that Saniora's visit was aimed at providing Russia with "trustworthy" information about the situation in Lebanon, Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti reported. My sincere respects to the author and the editors for the masterful application of quotes in the preceding sentence. |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #1 See also PRAVDA > PUTIN FURIOUS OVER US PAYMENTS TO ISRAEL FOR [2006] LEBANON WAR. Dubya's 100B + positioning War Reserve piles in Israel. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-12-15 20:47 |