...an organization whose definition of
human rightsis interesting, to say the least...
Secretary General
the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon's... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
recent report on the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1559, saying that it has not meddled in Lebanese affairs or infiltrated Lebanese territory, reported the daily An Nahar on Friday.
"No, no! Certainly not!"
Syria's permanent ambassador to the U.N. Bashar al-Jaafari informed Ban in a letter: "The majority of the information on Syria mentioned in the report is based on misleading and fabricated media sources."
"Tut tut, sir! Pish and bosh!"
"Dragging Syria's name into Lebanese internal affairs is part of a campaign against Syria," he added. "Syria is always keen on Leb's illusory sovereignty and independence, which is a matter the secretary general chose to overlook," he continued.
"He is fully aware, as he claims, that weapons are being smuggled from Leb to Syria and the authorities from both countries have thwarted these operations," Jaafari stated.
He also accused Ban of targeting Syria and forging facts by citing matters that have not been reported by the media, including "allegations that Syrian troops had infiltrated Lebanese territory, which were proven to be false."
"Filing false reports to the United Nations on Leb and Syria is a violation of resolution 1559 and the Security Council should hold those responsible for them accountable," the Syrian ambassador stressed.
He repeated Syria's rejection of Ban's report, including the articles on the demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian border, saying that this is an issue that only concerns the two countries.
"The real obstacle that is obstructing the demarcation is Israel and its occupation of the Golan Heights and Shabaa Farms," he noted.
Meanwhile,
...back at the desert island, Bert was realizing to his horror that he'd had only one bottle for one message, and he'd forgotten to include a return address...
EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule voiced his concern over the reports in Syrian incursions into Leb.
The visiting official held talks on Thursday with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister
Najib Miqati, Speaker Nabih KnobbyBerri
Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, a member of AMAL, a not very subtle Hizbullah sock puppet...
, and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.
Jaafari's letter came in light of Syrian troops planting mines along a region bordering the northern Lebanese area of Wadi Khaled, reported Agence La Belle France Presse on Thursday.
"Lebanese officials told us that the Syrians undertook the measure to prevent weapons smuggling," a Lebanese official told AFP.
"A number of Syrian soldiers were also seen deploying on their side of the border, near the Syrian villages of Heet and Buwayt," he added.
Sources told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published on Friday that the Syrian army planted the mines in light of reports that defectors had decamped Syria towards Leb.
"A considerable number of defectors had abandoned their weapons and decamped to Leb after refusing to take part in the crackdown against anti-regime protestors in Homs," they added.
The Syrian regime has been waging a bloody crackdown against anti-regime demonstrators since March.
Army defections have been on the rise recently as the crackdown has not relented.