Nasser Qandil to Al-Manar Website: Syria Overcame Crisis… Lebanon Lost a Lot!

Friday, 7 October 2011

Nasser Qandil to Al-Manar Website: Syria Overcame Crisis… Lebanon Lost a Lot!

Hussein Assi

Miqati’s Promises, Pledges Non-Binding…

Syrian Opposition Collapsing, Dying Down
US-European anti-Syria Plot Will Be Defeated
Russia and China Returned Balance to UNSC
Lebanon’s UNSC Shameful Position Unjustified
Gov’t Stance Will Affect Ties with Syria People
Not Financing STL Logical… Miqati Excused

Lebanese former lawmaker Nasser Qandil declared that Syria has overcome the danger since the Jisr as-Shughour famous developments, and said that the equation has become more obvious and solid at the current stage. He pointed that the latest developments in Syria signaled that it was not possible anymore to change the power equation between a collapsing opposition and a wise leadership, with a coherent army and a popular nation behind it.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Qandil praised the Russian and Chinese stances within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and spoke of clear indications of a change in the balances of the international community. He said that Moscow and Beijing would not have accepted the challenge if they were not confident that the US-European anti-Syria plot would be defeated.

However, Qandil criticized the ambiguous Lebanese stance in the UNSC, and described it as shameful. He warned of its repercussions at the level of the relations between the Lebanese and Syrian people, and noted that the “pressure” pretext adopted by Lebanese is unjustified.

The former MP stressed the necessity to apply constitutional laws in dealing with the so-called Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He noted that the pledges made by Prime Minister Najib Miqati in this regard were valueless as the decision must be taken by the council of ministers as a whole. He noted that such a decision required the approval of two thirds of the ministers, and said that logically speaking, this majority would not be guaranteed. Yet, he expressed belief the premier would be excused in front of those he promised to finance the STL, as they claimed to be pro-democracy.

CONSPIRACY UNCOVERED

Former MP Nasser Qandil said that the latest developments in Syria signaled that it was not possible anymore to change the power equation between a collapsing opposition and a wise leadership, with a coherent army and a popular nation behind it. He was referring to the assassinations taking place in Syria, the formation of the so-called National Syrian Council as well as the diplomatic challenge foiled by Russia and China at the UNSC.

Qandil said that the conspiracy targeting Syria was finally uncovered with its extremist elements, which were unable to represent anyone in Syria, given that Syrians absolutely refuse any attempt to take them to civil war. He said that Syria has actually overcome the crisis since the famous developments of Jisr as-Shughour, and said that the equation has become even clearer. He spoke of an anti-opposition popular majority, represented by the coherence of the army and the security forces.

LEBANON’S SHAMEFUL POSITION

Qandil said that whoever deeply read the Russian and Chinese stances within the UNSC and their resort to the veto power could understand that something has changed in the international community. He explained that Russia and China have returned balance to the UNSC, and noted that would not have accepted the challenge if they were not confident that the US-European anti-Syria plot will be defeated.

Commenting on the Lebanese vague stance and its abstention from voting on sanctions against Syria, Qandil said the Lebanese position was shameful. He refused claims that the Lebanese stance would have not change anything in the final outcome, and said such claims were enough to make Lebanon take the appropriate solidarity stance with the Syrian brothers.

BETWEEN ASSAD’S PATIENCE AND PEOPLE’S RESPONSE

Qandil warned that the reaction of the Syrian people remained the essence. He expressed belief that the problem for many of those who were taking stances against Syria was that they were only taking into consideration the patience of President Bashar Assad. “This is good and it not wrong to build on it. But, we have also to consider the reactions of the Syrians who consider today Russia and China as friends, but raise question marks over the stances of others, previously believed to be brothers.

He noted that Turkey, for instance, could re-establish an official relationship with Syria, one day. But, he asserted, it would never be an icon for the Syrian people. He noted that the issue was even more dangerous for Lebanon. “It is not healthy that Syrians blame Lebanon for the political conduct of its government, believe to be pro-Syrian,” he said. “Without doubt, Lebanon has lost a lot because of this stance, given that nothing can justify it. Pressure could be real if the Russian and Chinese vetoes were not confirmed. Thus, this justification is invalid.”

MARCH 14 CLAIMS…

Qandil rejected the attempts to justify the UNSC stance by saying that there was an anti-Syria Lebanese bloc, and that this bloc enjoys some popularity, even though it was not represented in the cabinet. “If Lebanon was considering this bloc’s beliefs, then let it consider its stance from the Resistance arms, its behavior towards American wishes, given than its conduct doesn’t show any enmity towards Israel,” he said.

He stressed there was a serious conflict with this bloc, and recalled that the overthrow of the government of PM Saad Hariri was aimed at forming a government representing the real national will. “We will be mistaken if we choose to seek balance in such fateful decisions,” he highlighted.

FINANCING STL WILL NOT PASS

To conclude, Qandil tackled the upcoming challenge related to the financing of the so-called Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He said that the government was created to correct the ruling path, and respect the constitution which was violated throughout the consecutive governments, headed by the March 14 bloc through the persons of Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri. He said that the government might resort to the constitution to deal with any conflict, and pointed to the mechanism of taking any decision within the cabinet. He said he understood the circumstances of those who called for financing the STL, but said the decision should remain in the hands of the council of ministers as a whole.

Answering a question over the possibility of such scenario to take place in light of the pledges made by PM Najib Miqati, Qandil said that Miqati perceived that his promises were not binding, and that he should respect the law to take the final decision, regardless of its nature. He stressed that Miqati would be excused in case the cabinet decided not to finance the STL, as those who were asking him to finance it were basically pro-democracy, and therefore should respect the democratic process.
On whether he expected such outcome, Qandil said he didn’t want to anticipate things. Yet, he said that the logical thing would be that the majority could vote for not financing the STL, or at least, that the pro-financing team could not get the two-thirds required majority.