Naharnet

Syrian Ambassador on Calls for his Expulsion: They are Meaningless Demands

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali hoped on Thursday that all Lebanese factions would resort to internal dialogue for the sake of their country and Lebanese-Syrian ties.

He said of calls for his expulsion: “Such desires are meaningless.”

He made his remarks after holding talks with a delegation of Lebanese student organizations.

The majority of the Lebanese and Syrian people are keen on maintaining the fraternal ties between the two countries, added the ambassador.

There is therefore no need to comment on calls for the expulsion, he continued.

“All evil conspiracies against Syria and Lebanon will fail,” stressed Ali.

“We must fortify the standards of mutual coexistence and commit to the role of the resistance, which serves as the defender of Lebanon, the region, and Syria,” he stated.

On Wednesday, a number of March 14 politicians, media personalities, and student bodies staged a rally in front the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Ashrafiyeh to demand Ali’s expulsion over his response to recent statements by President Michel Suleiman, among other issues.

The president had said last week that he is still awaiting Syrian President Bashar Assad to contact him over the arrest of Lebanese former minister Michel Samaha.

On August 23, Ali had said of Suleiman’s remarks: “Lebanon must fortify its internal scene and avoid responding to international pressure on Syria.”

Samaha, a close ally to Damascus, and Syrian security chief Ali al-Mamlouk were recently charged with a forming a criminal group aimed at carrying out attacks in Lebanon.


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