Syrian President Hafez Assad warned Lebanon Saturday not to allow Israel any political gains in negotiations aimed at arranging the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
The Syrian warning came as U.S. Middle East envoy Philip Habib left Beirut for Israel after briefing Lebanese negotiators on what government sources said was a plan to speed up the Israeli-Lebanese talks.
Assad, meeting in Damascus with an envoy of Lebanese President Amin Gemayel, said Gemayel ‘must not allow Israel to achieve any political gains while ensuring a withdrawal of the occupation force from Lebanon,’ state-run Damascus radio reported.
Assad’s remarks followed a similar warning by Syrian Foreign Minister Abdel Halim Khaddam broadcast by Damascus radio Friday, one day after Lebanese and Israeli negotiators agreed on an agenda.
Khaddam said Syria ‘will resist and try to thwart any attempt to impose any agreement that infringes on Lebanon’s unity and sovereignty over its territory, or infringe on Syria’s security and its interests.’
Israel has pressed for normalized relations with Lebanon which would include open borders and trade and tourism agreements, and asked for ‘security arrangements’ to protect its northern frontier.
