“There is no state in Lebanon, and authority belongs to Hezbollah.” Khaddam to Al-Nahar: Lebanon’s fate is linked to Syria’s fate, so if the regime in Syria falls, Lebanon will be liberated.”

publisher: النهار AL Nahar

Publishing date: 2011-11-06

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Former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam stated in a statement to the newspaper “Al-Nahar” that Lebanon’s fate is linked to Syria’s fate, “so if the regime in Syria falls, Lebanon will be liberated.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the “National Authority for Supporting the Syrian Revolution” held in Paris and in response to questions from “Al-Nahar” about his opinion on the impact of events in Syria on the Lebanese internal situation, he said, “The Lebanese people should know that Syria’s fate has become tied to Lebanon’s fate. If this regime falls, Lebanon will be liberated.” He added, “Lebanon today is occupied, it is occupied by Iran. And if this regime in Syria continues, the occupation will continue to hold the Lebanese people by their necks.” He considered that “there is no state in Lebanon today, and authority belongs to Hezbollah. Therefore, one cannot speak of the Lebanese state and what it truly means. The President of the Republic is under the umbrella of Hezbollah, and the commander of the army, the prime minister, and all institutions are under this umbrella.” He asked, “Today, who makes the decisions in Lebanon?” He reiterated that “Lebanon is occupied today, and it can only be liberated if Syria is liberated. Here lies the connection and twinning between the two countries.”

Regarding the possibility of the conflict in Syria extending to Lebanon and its potential impact on the Lebanese society, and whether the civil war could spread from Syria to Lebanon, he emphasized that “a civil war will not occur in Syria.”

He based this assertion on the idea that what could happen in Syria is an armed struggle against the regime, not a civil war. He stated, “The interaction between people in Syria precludes the possibility of such a thing.” He asked, “Has there been any sectarian dispute in Syria? The first President of the Syrian Republic was a Christian.”

As for whether the conflict between authority and the revolution in Syria would spill over into Lebanon, he said, “This is linked to the determination of the Lebanese opposition,” referring to the twinning of the destinies of the two countries. He added, “The decision in Syria is made personally by President Bashar al-Assad, and his decisions are subject to change.” He provided an example of this, recalling an incident in 2004 when he asked Assad about his stance on extending President Emile Lahoud’s term. Assad had said they wouldn’t go for an extension, but Khaddam advised him against making such a decision under pressure. Assad then exclaimed, “I seek refuge in God.” Later, Assad changed his position and asked Khaddam to inform Rafik Hariri about the extension decision.

Regarding reversing decisions and whether changes occur under pressure, Khaddam said, “In my estimation, President Lahoud visited [Assad] and told him that any new Lebanese president would hold all of Syria’s allies in Lebanon accountable. Some Lebanese allies of the Syrian regime echoed the same sentiment. When you talk to the President about a certain matter, he agrees with you, and then another person contradicts your words and he agrees with them.”

On the brink of collapse, Khaddam addressed a message to the Syrian people, stating that the regime “is on the brink of collapse thanks to the young people of Syria who have eradicated fear from their minds and hearts.” He positioned himself in the service of the Syrian revolution, considering himself “not an alternative to the revolution and the people but a part of them.” He offered means “that can help the revolution achieve its goals of overthrowing the regime and holding its civilian and military leaders accountable, ranging from pursuing these objectives peacefully to arming the revolution.” He concluded that “continuing the peaceful movement is difficult because it confronts the second-largest army in the region.” He also suggested “the possibility of military intervention by the international community, similar to the intervention in Libya. The regime is more brutal than any foreign occupation, and Iran, which has no connection to Syria, has helped it dominate the region from Lebanon to the Gulf.”

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