Sleiman warns Syria turmoil might spread

President Michel Sleiman warned Monday that the turmoil in Syria might spill over into Lebanon and urged Arab states to help put out the fire rather than inflaming it in the neighboring country torn by 13 months of popular upheaval against the regime of President Bashar Assad.“The fire in Syria could spill over into Lebanon. Therefore, Arab countries should shoulder their responsibilities in putting out this fire or at least in not inflaming it,” said Sleiman, who is currently on a week-long official visit to Australia. “Everyone in Syria wants democracy. But it is important to reach democracy away from violence while accepting the states’ positive, not negative, intervention,” he added. Referring to an attempt earlier this month to assassinate Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea at his residence in Maarab, Sleiman told reporters Sunday that he ruled out a return of political assassinations in Lebanon. He said he would not go into the details of the “ugly” incident before an investigation is completed. Sleiman’s comments on the crisis in Syria came during a meeting with Arab diplomats in the Australian capital, Canberra, on the second day of his visit to Australia. Also Monday, Sleiman said he will not allow Lebanon to be used as a launching pad for attacks on any Arab country, particularly Syria. “Lebanon is not an arena for settling accounts or a struggle between anyone. Rather, it is an arena to bring together all Arab brothers,” Sleiman said in a speech addressing the Lebanese community in Canberra. “Lebanon will not be a platform or a base for subversion or an attack on any Arab state, namely on Syria. This is totally forbidden.” Sleiman’s comments came as an advance team of UN observers arrived in Damascus Monday to work out with Syrian officials the ground rules for monitoring a UN-brokered five-day-old cease-fire, which appeared to be rapidly unraveling as regime forces pounded the opposition stronghold of Homs with artillery shells and mortars, activists said. Referring to the wave of popular uprisings roiling the Arab world, Sleiman underlined the significance of ensuring social justice, which he said would make the people demand democracy away from violence. “The West must reconsider its approach toward democracy,” he said. Sleiman called on Arab regimes to ponder seriously preserving pluralistic structures “because Arab civilization is the cradle of religions.” “We are currently facing the proliferation of globalization and its risks which might eliminate some social structures. We cannot face [globalization] alone. Therefore, we should proceed with an economic integration project and invest inside our Arab states,” Sleiman said. He expressed regret that pro-democracy uprisings have made Arab leaders forget the Palestinian issue. Sleiman pointed out that he was the only Arab leader who spoke about the Palestinian cause at the Arab League. “It seems that the Arabs have forgotten about Palestine,” he said. “Will the [Palestinian] identity be given to the owners of the land? Will democracy not allow the Palestinians to return [to their homes] and to settle them permanently in Lebanon for example?” Sleiman asked. “Will [democracy] allow occupation in Lebanon and Syria? Will it allow the Judaization of Jerusalem and the elimination of all cultural and historic features?” he added. Earlier Monday, during a luncheon hosted by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Sleiman urged a solution to the Middle East conflict. “At a time when the Arab world is still seeking to make its way toward reform and democracy which is open to modernity and committed to freedoms and human rights away from the danger of divisions, disintegration and violence, there is an urgent need to find a just and comprehensive solution for all aspects of the Middle East conflict in order to safeguard international security and peace,” Sleiman said. He stressed that such a solution requires not only a political decision, but an actual international determination that would ensure the commitment of the parties to the principles and foundations of the solution as stipulated in UN resolutions. Sleiman held talks with Gillard at Parliament House in Canberra centering on ways of expanding bilateral ties in various fields. According to a statement released by Sleiman’s media office, the talks touched on the substantial contribution by Australians of Lebanese origin toward all aspects of political, economic, social and cultural life in Australia, the statement said. During the talks, Gillard affirmed support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, stability, unity, independence and territorial integrity, and supporting the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 which ended the 34-day war with Israel in the summer of 2006, the statement added. At the luncheon, Sleiman said he was proud of making the first official visit to Australia by a Lebanese president. Sleiman lauded Lebanese-Australian ties, attributing them to a shared outlook on ethical issues. On Sunday, Sleiman, speaking to reporters, said the 2013 parliamentary polls would be held according to the Constitution, regardless of which election law is adopted. He added that he was convinced that “proportional representation needed to be adopted because it is the sole way to avoid religious and sectarian alignments.” The president’s trip will focus in part on encouraging the Lebanese community in Australia to participate in the 2013 parliamentary elections. The 2013 polls will mark the first time that Lebanese expatriates will be able to cast their ballots abroad. Sleiman, who is in Canberra, will also travel to Sydney and Melbourne, where he is scheduled to meet with Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu. He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Mokbel, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi.