Syria Reported to Assure Lebanese on Sovereignty

publisher: The New York Times

Publishing date: 1976-01-26

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A Syrian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam was reported today to have assured Lebanon’s Christian leaders that Syria’s role in the cease‐fire in Lebanon did not constitute intervention in Lebanon nor an infringement of the country’s sovereignty.

Mr. Khaddam is also reported to have assured the Christian leaders that the Palestine Liberation Army, which has been patrolling Beirut since the cease‐fire last Friday, would be withdrawn to Syria once stability was established here and the political changes called for in the cease‐fire agreement were carried out.

The assurances reportedly came in a conference at the Presidential Palace attended by the Syrians, rightist Christian leaders and Prime Minister Rashid Karami.

Peace Steps Announced

After the meeting, Prime Minister Karami announced a series, of new measures to help stabilize the Syrian‐mediated, cease‐fire. He announced that all highways would be reopened this evening and that all gunmen would begin pulling out of all areas tomorrow. The withdrawal will be completed not later than Tuesday night, he said.

Those present at the meeting today included Interior Minister Camille Chamoun, who is also the head of the National Liberal Party, Pierre Gemayel, the leader of the Phalangist Party, and Father Charbel Kasis, head of the Order of Maronite Monks.

Between them, the National Liberals and the Phalangists control the bulk of the Christian militia, believed to total about 10,000 men. Father Kasis has emerged as a leading figure in the Maronite Church during the nine‐month crisis.

The Maronites, who follow the Eastern rites but are loyal, to Rome, are the largest Christian community in Lebanon

Mr. Karami, who withdrew his resignation yesterday, said that Mr. Chamoun and Mr. Gemayel had already issued instructions to their followers to carry out the new measures.

The reopening of the highways would end the blockade the rightists have imposed against two Palestinian refugee camps in the capital’s eastern suburbs.

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