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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| U.S. ups pressure on Syria: Secret services must go |
| 2005-02-24 |
| Increasing the pressure on Damascus further, the United States warned Syria Wednesday it must withdraw its "secret services from Lebanon in addition to its troops" or face new sanctions. Speaking during a joint press conference in Mainz, Germany with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder Wednesday, U.S. President George W. Bush for the first time mentioned Damascus' secret services, adding that he would await the Syrian response before seeking any further sanctions. Bush also insisted that Lebanon's May parliamentary elections be completely free of any interference from its neighbor. "These are the demands, loud and clear, and let's see if Syria complies," he added. French President Jacques Chirac also stressed the issue of independent Lebanese elections, declaring that Syria should get out of Lebanon before the May elections or face international sanctions. Speaking to Jordan's King Abdullah II Wednesday, Chirac said the Lebanese elections will "only be credible, if [United Nations Security Council] Resolution 1559 is applied." A day earlier, Chirac had said he was "surprised by the unanimous determination, not only of the U.S. president, but also of the entire European Union, that Resolution 1559 be really applied and under the attentive watch of the UN." "France has never been very favorable to the sanctions system," Chirac said, "but it's up to the Security Council to decide ... Therefore, if the application of 1559 does not begin, the Security Council will deliberate on sanctions in light of the report submitted by the UN secretary general." Also for the first time, Chirac added the withdrawal should - more importantly - include Syria's intelligence services "that are coercing Lebanon." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Chriac sees new financial opportunities in Lebanaon should the sanctions be imposed. |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-02-24 9:53:58 AM |
| #1 "France has never been very favorable to the sanctions system," Chirac said What chutzpah! (for our British speakers, "Bloody cheek!") |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-02-24 7:38:18 AM |