Geagea: Democracy is Syria’s real solution

Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea said on Saturday that Syria’s “real solution” was democracy. During a ceremony commemorating the 18th anniversary of the LF’s dissolution, Geagea added that ongoing events in Syria do not benefit the regime. “The real solution in Syria is to call for a real popular referendum sponsored by the Arab League and the UN Security Council on whether the regime should stay or not.” He added that any other solution would lead to more bloodshed, death and destruction. “The real solution in Syria is democracy. Let those who democratically attain power in Syria rule.” The LF leader also slammed the continued use of violence in Syria. “This will not lead to weakening the revolution but will strengthen the extremists.  Every additional day in the regime’s age is another [pillar] in building extremism in Syria.” Geagea also said that Christians in Syria “did not land in parachutes when the Syrian regime was established,” adding that they were native citizens of Syria. “He who cares about the fate of the Christians in the Middle East does not plant ideas of fear and desperation and throw them in the hands of regimes that suppress them.” Geagea also called on Christians in the Middle East to hold on to their land, to confront the events bravely and to organise themselves in parties in order to defend what they are believe in. “We have no life in the Middle East if we lose the value of the reason of our presence.” He added that “the presence of a moderate Muslim majority calling for rightful citizenship, freedom and democracy is a tangible reality that cannot be overlooked.”