Syrian regime: Berri is our mailbox

High ranking Syrian officials reportedly told the French ambassador to Damascus that Berri's initiative, which was marketed by the speaker as "100% Lebanese", is the regime's response to French demands for a positive Syrian role in the presidential election. The Syrians are now reportedly waiting for the US and Saudi Arabia to "present an initiative towards Syria".

وعلى صعيد المواقف السياسية، كان لافتاً أمس الموقف الذي كشفته مصادر ديبلوماسية لـ «الحياة»، وفحواه ان عدداً من كبار المسؤولين السوريين الذين التقاهم السفير الفرنسي في دمشق ميشال دوكلو، أبلغوه ان مبادرة بري في شأن الاستحقاق الرئاسي في لبنان تدخل في إطار الجهود التي بذلتها سورية تجاوباً مع طلب فرنسا منها القيام بدور إيجابي في هذا الاستحقاق. وتابعت المصادر ذاتها ان المسؤولين السوريين ينظرون الى مبادرة بري على انها تظهر تجاوب دمشق مع الطلب الفرنسي، وأنه يأتي الآن دور الولايات المتحدة والمملكة العربية السعودية لتقدما مبادرة في اتجاه سورية. (Al-Hayat)

Comments

[Bad Vilbel]

HAHAHAHAHA! Berri just got owned!!

Too freaking funny, if it weren't so sad.

In other news, can someone explain to me why Sfeir (a religious man) is pontificating about quorums, while the Prime Minister (supposedly the politician) is busy saying that he's all for talks with the Saudi Monarch while making some sort of pilgrimage to the Arabian Kingdom?

Is Lebanon Bizarro world or what?

[Jeha]

Nice,

With friends like this, al iztiz does not need enemies.

[Mustapha]

so that paragraph caught both our attentions :)

[Tony]

The Syrians are absolutely hysterical. Pathetically transparent.

Saudi and US initiatives towards Syria? OK, try this on for size: Saudi canceling Moallem's visit to KSA and US officials saying Syria is doing fishy work with N. Korea which was blown to bits by Israeli jets. Or maybe this initiative from the US will work better. Or maybe this from a senior White House official: "This (Syria) is a vicious brutal regime allied to Iran strategically, not tactically, engaged in helping kill Americans in Iraq, helping the worst Palestinian terrorist forces, desperate to reassert its rule over Lebanon, and sponsoring not simply anti-Zionist but the most barbaric anti-Semitic views."

Maybe the Europeans are better. Let's see. "Additionally, the official reportedly informed the academics that international mediators - mostly from the European Union - have been engaged in talks with Damascus over the past months concerning the prospect of renewing peace talks with Israel. But, according to the academics, the official said the mediators "came back empty-handed."

OK, what about Solana? "European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, by contrast, supports Washington's stance."

Alright how about Ban Ki-Moon? "He is apparently joined by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who does not view Syria's attendance as a positive outcome."

Mmmkay, Italy?

D'Alema said that he told Sharaa that "we ask from Syria a very clear position on Lebanon's independence and sovereignty and (emphasis mine) we ask of it to participate positively in peace and stability in the region and the respect of Lebanon's independence.

Prodi for his part made a statement ahead of Sharaa's visit where he placed conditions on inviting Syria to the peace conference, that it should give "clear signals of commitment, goodwill, and openness to dialogue" which are currently lacking.

The Maronite Patriarch Sfeir, who is visiting Italy and the Vatican, was asked what the Italian officials told Sharaa, who tried to preempt the Patriarch's visit (to sell the usual snake oil that Syria is the true guarantor and protector of Lebanese Christians, and thus it should get to nominate the president). He replied: "They made Syria understand that it should not interfere in Lebanese affairs and that it must respect Lebanon's sovereignty and independence, and that there should be reasonable relations between the two countries, that is relations between two neighboring countries who share certain interests."

Lots of "initiatives" there. Maybe you can look for them in Dayr az-Zor.

[JoseyWales]

Berri's office issued an official statement saying:

"Mr. Berri stands corrected. If his twin-brotherly Syrian Masters say he is a mailbox then he must be"

His office added that a letter of apology was forwarded to MP Walid Joumblatt and signed: Syrian Mailbox #2, Istiz Nabih.

[Bad Vilbel]

Who's Syrian Mailbox #1?

[JoseyWales]

Who's Syrian Mailbox #1?

Walaw BV, Emile who also doubles as Whore #1, well at least for another 2 months.

[Bad Vilbel]

Ah yeah! How could i forget him! He's been kinda quiet of late. Out of sight out of mind...eh?