khaddam called for a president to adhere to the Taif Agreement despite its shortcomings.
Paris – Georges Sassine
Former deputy to Syrian President Abdel Halim Khaddam announced yesterday that he will not apologize to anyone for his past responsibilities when he handled the Lebanon file for about three decades. He outlined some specifications for the upcoming Lebanese president, refusing to engage in the game of names. He warned against tampering with the Taif Agreement at this stage, as it would bring the country back to square one, meaning civil war. In an interview with the US news agency UPI, Khaddam rejected the Damascus Declaration, signed by opposition parties, denying any alliance with the former Syrian Chief of Staff, General Hikmat Al-Shihabi, to overthrow the regime in Syria.
Khaddam said, “I have nothing to apologize for, and I will not apologize to anyone. None of the Lebanese politicians I worked with, whether we disagreed or agreed, has the right to demand an apology from me. There was a civil war with its circumstances, and if we want to evaluate that period, I am ready to have a dialogue with all the Lebanese leaders to determine the extent of each one’s mistakes. It was a difficult period with mistakes; for example, there were those who dealt with Israel, we clashed with them, should I apologize to them and say sorry? And there were those who signed the May 17 agreement, we disagreed with them, should I apologize to them?”
He added, “During the period when I was responsible for the Lebanon file, it was the most dangerous period in Lebanon’s history, and we managed to overcome it. There was a civil war and twenty security agencies operating in Lebanon. There was a conflict with the Palestinians, between the Palestinians and the Lebanese parties in the Islamic and Christian areas.”
Apologizing is not an option.
He emphasized that apologizing is not an option for him and that whoever demands an apology from him should be the one apologizing to him if they utter any word on this matter. He insisted that those asking him to apologize should tell him where he went wrong before asking for an apology.
Regarding a critical review of his management of the Lebanese file, he said, “I will publish my memoirs about the war in Lebanon in 8 parts, covering all the details and incidents, where the mistakes were made and where the right decisions were taken.”
He denied any American approval for the operation to remove General Michel Aoun from the Baabda Palace, stating, “I will publish 10 American messages urging us not to engage in any military action against him.”
Asked about the alternative to President Emile Lahoud, he said, “Within the Maronite community, there are competent individuals with knowledge, ability, and potential… It’s not about compiling a list of names.”
As for whether the next president should be hostile to the current Syrian regime, Khaddam stated, “No, the specifications should not be set in that manner. They should be based on the Lebanese situation. The president should have leadership capabilities, knowledge, cooperation with people, and a belief in the Taif Agreement. The president should not rule; he is not a ruler, but a governor.”
“He should be of good conduct and reputation. These specifications apply to a hundred people,” he added.
Khaddam stressed that whoever the Lebanese people choose, everyone should cooperate with them. He expressed confidence in the Lebanese people’s ability to make good choices and advised against seeking opinions outside of Beirut.
He called for overcoming the Syrian-Lebanese rift and working towards it. However, he believed that it would be difficult for a group of Lebanese to engage with the current Syrian regime before the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is concluded. He said, “It’s difficult for someone to tell Saad Hariri to sit with Bashar al-Assad while he can’t sit with Lahoud.”
Regarding the necessary steps between the two countries until the investigation is completed, Khaddam said, “These relations cannot remain either an embrace or a divorce. Between these two extremes lies coexistence. The common interest of the two nations must be managed, and no one should stand in its way, whether in Syria or in Lebanon.”
The Taif Agreement is the ceiling.
Asked about attempts to initiate dialogue among the Lebanese, Khaddam said, “A national dialogue table must be established, including all Lebanese parties, and at least the forces present in the parliament. The Taif Agreement is the ceiling, as any tampering with this agreement would regress the country… Each party must realize that it cannot cling to its own viewpoint, and each party must compromise to reach a common denominator.”
When asked about any shortcomings in the Taif Agreement, Khaddam confirmed, “Certainly, for instance, the parliament can dissolve the government, but it does not have the authority to dissolve the council. In all countries around the world, the government has the right to dissolve the parliament except in Lebanon. There are procedural issues that facilitate the functioning of constitutional institutions, which should be considered, but not now, given the current tensions.”
Regarding revisiting the powers of the President of the Republic, Khaddam said, “No, never. The reason for giving the president 15 days to sign a decree is that no one can hold the president accountable for it. That’s why the constitution placed a binding text. As for a minister’s failure, the parliament holds him accountable, and the Council of Ministers holds him accountable.”
France and Lebanon
Khaddam considered France’s current policy towards Lebanon to be accurate. He acknowledged that France supported Lebanon in Paris Conferences 1 and 2 and stood by Lebanon during the Israeli aggression. He noted that France wished for the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon based on an agreement between the Lebanese and Syrians. However, the current situation is not the result of France or any other country or UN Resolution 1559, but rather the wrong interpretation and decisions made by President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian people wanted the Syrian army to withdraw from Lebanon since 2000.
Regarding his opinion on the Damascus Declaration issued by the opposition forces months ago, Khaddam said, “This declaration accurately represents the aspirations of the Syrians. I support this declaration, and its content aligns completely with my perspective.”
He declined to discuss any communications with Syrian leadership that endorsed the Damascus Declaration.
He added that he calls for a new law for parties in Syria without any restrictions on any group wishing to form a party.