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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Saudis attack Syrian VP over remarks on Lebanon elections |
| 2007-12-18 |
| Saudi newspapers launched a vehement attack against Syrian Vice president Farouk al-Sharaa over remarks he made on the Lebanese presidential elections issue and assurances he gave that Syria and its Lebanese allies are better off now than they were when the Syrian forces were in Lebanon. The London-based daily Asharq Al-Awsat said Sharaa "deserves to be called Farouq al sharakh," Arabic for "split," citing that "each time he speaks about politics he causes a split among Arabs." It said Sharaa's political language "is in no way comparable to politicians," adding that his remarks on Lebanon "show the difference between Sharaa's thoughts and those of the Saudis in terms of Lebanon's stability." Al Okaz newspaper described Sharaa's comments on Lebanon as "instigative speeches." Sharaa "did not conceal his desire for the continuity of the Lebanese crisis and the constitutional vacuum Beirut is facing." The daily AL Watan, in turn, said Sharaa "exposed his role as well as that of his colleagues in Lebanon when he stressed that he and his allies are stronger than any time before, revealing the (party) that is sabotaging the election process in Lebanon." Sharaa had rejected "pressure" on Lebanese friends of Syria, saying "everyone now wants us to step in and pressure Aoun, Hezbollah, Berri, Wiam Wahhab, Osama Saad, Karami and Franjieh. They are all friends of Syria and they are better off now than they were when the Syrian forces were in Lebanon." Sharaa adding that postponing the elections "is not the end of the world." Farouk al-Sharaa 69, is one of the most prominent officials in the Assad regime and served as foreign minister of Syria from 1984 until 2006 when he became vice-president of Syria. Prior to joining the government he worked for Syrian Air Lines for over a decade as an airline attendant . During the 1970s he became an active member of the Ba'ath Party. His role in the Baath party helped Sharaa in joining the Syrian regime as a diplomat without ever having any training or education in this field .This is why he acquired the the title of “Undiplomatic diplomat.“ |
| Posted by:Fred |