The
senior Arab official outlined moves taken by Arab states in the
direction of a swift peaceful solution to the standoff.
“Undeclared
diplomatic moves are currently under way with Syria in an attempt to
clarify the gravity of the situation in case it refuses to implement
UN resolution 1559,” he said.
In
September 2004, the US and France sponsored a UN Security Council
resolution, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign troops from
Lebanon – a clear reference to Syrian forces.
Analysts
believe Washington could easily, based on the resolution, mobilize
international support to move militarily against Syria if continuing
to refuse the implementation of the resolution.
“There
is a proposal for the Syrians to declare a withdrawal schedule in
accordance with Taif agreement [which ended a 1975-1990 civil war],
not resolution 1559,” said the Arab official.
“This
gives Syria a dignified way out, without being seen as bowing to
Washington's threats,” he added.
Under
Taif agreement, Syrian troops were to start withdrawing from Beirut
and to redeploy to eastern Bekaa Valley by 1992.
The
implementation of the agreement was delayed, however, till June 2001
when Syria withdrew most of its troops from Beirut and suburbs,
following Israel's withdrawal from South Lebanon in May 2000.
Parallel
Moves
On
the international levels, the three Arab countries posted the US and
the Europeans, especially Paris, on their moves to solve the standoff.
In
parallel, they are seeking intensive talks with the anti-Syrian
Lebanese powers, in a bid to convince them to hold a national
conference.
The
target, according to the same source, is to secure the main demand of
the opposition for the withdrawal of Syrian troops but under an Arab
umbrella and without international intervention.
In
return, added the Arab officials, the opposition would agree to delay
the deployment of Lebanese army forces in the south to take the place
of Hezbollah fighters.
In
his sermon Sunday, Maronite Christian Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, seen
as the main driving force behind the anti-Syrian campaign, called on
the opposition to avoid deepening splits between pro- and anti-Syrian
camps from sparking a civil war.
Pro-government
political and parliamentary powers called Sunday for an unconditional
dialogue with the opposition to preserve the country's national unity
and interests.
The
opposition, however, seemed intent on raising the stakes to the
maximum, rejecting such calls.
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