The delegates of the Arab League, Lakhdar Brahimi and Ahmed Al-Aziz Al-Jassim, made a series of contacts yesterday with senior officials in the Syrian capital.
They held a meeting with Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam. The results of the tour of Arab delegates in Beirut were evaluated to assess the Syrian position on the current situation in Lebanon, in light of the recent decisions of the Arab Ministerial Council.
It was announced in Damascus that the leader of the Arab observer team, to be formed, would arrive tomorrow in the Syrian capital, in preparation for moving to Beirut accompanied by Brahimi and Jassem.
In Damascus, Al-Jassim denied what he had announced in Beirut, that the violation of the ceasefire originated in West Beirut. He said, “We strongly deny the contents of this news because the responsibility for determining who is not committed to the ceasefire in Lebanon will be carried out by the Arab monitoring forces when they arrive in Lebanon and begin their work.” He stressed that his role, along with Brahimi and the six-party committee, “is to continue making intensive contacts with all parties to stabilize the ceasefire, lift the siege, and create an appropriate environment to complete the implementation of the provisions of the resolution of the Arab League Council.”
Guarantees:
Syrian sources in Damascus revealed to Al-Diyar five demands put forward by the Syrian capital and discussed with the Arab League. These are guarantees demanded by the Syrian capital. The sources identified them as follows:
- A final ceasefire.
- The concentration of monitors at all seaports to prevent weapons from reaching them.
- Avoidance of a return to the slogan of the war of liberation and military action.
- A guarantee from the Arab countries that these provisions will not be violated, and that the truce will not serve as a camouflage for the acquisition of weapons in preparation for an escalation at a later stage.
- Obtaining coverage for the use of all types of weapons in the event of a violation of these provisions.
