Assad lauds FPM leader, says fought and reconciled with Syria "honorably"

As-Safir Lebanese Daily revealed Monday the stances of Syrian President Bachar Assad who had met with a delegation of Lebanese officials and representatives of political parties in Damascus Sunday. According to the Daily, Assad had criticized the policy adopted by Lebanon in regards to the Syrian conflict, stating that the dissociation policy cannot be fully implemented when the country is in the midst of the line of fire.                 

“Should Lebanon be moved to Africa where it can wait until the Syrian conflict comes to an end?”                   

During the meeting, Assad reportedly lauded the appointment of Prime Minister-Designate Tamman Salam, stating “it is a good thing to resort to political families who have a history in running matters pertaining to a country’s administrative procedures”.               

In what can be described as a hidden message to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Assad said “that appointments cannot be made at the beck and call of others”.
                
Contrary to popular belief, Assad confirmed Syria was not heading towards sectarian strife, but instead affirmed that both the Syrian people and army are more patriotic and unified that any time before.       

Assad then lauded the stances of the head of the Change and Reform Bloc, MP Michel Aoun, MP Sleiman Frangieh and Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai, describing them as leaders of merit with a high sense of national duty.          

“He fought us with honor and he made peace with us with honor,” Assad said on Aoun, adding that the stances of the head of the Free Patriotic Movement are indicative of his transparency in regards to the Syrian crisis.       

Both Aoun and Frangieh have demonstrated a higher understanding of the need to boost the role of the Christians in the Middle East, describing the role of the Patriarch as “light bearing”, as per his words.