Assad expected to announce Syrian pullback from Lebanon

by Adnane Zaka
DAMASCUS - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was to address parliament Saturday amid expectations he might announce a major troop redeployment in Lebanon, as the United States warned against any "half-hearted" measures.
It was not clear whether Assad, under increasing pressure to act from allies and foes alike, would announce a redeployment within Lebanon or go further by ordering a withdrawal of Syrian troops from the country.
The official SANA agency has said only that Assad would make a speech on Saturday afternoon to the People`s Council (parliament) on "current political developments", without giving further details.
However, it is uncommon for the president to address parliament in this way and a Lebanese minister has predicted Assad will unveil a new pullback in Lebanon during the keynote address, expected to begin at 6:00 pm (1600 GMT).
"We expect an announcement for a pullback into the Bekaa (valley in eastern Lebanon) before the Arab summit" due to take place on March 23 in Algeria, said the minister, who asked not to be identified.
"The announcement for a complete withdrawal will depend on political consultations," he added. "Syria wants guarantees, a sort of a roadmap, and wants consultations at the regional and international levels for the resumption of the peace process."
Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallim said in Moscow that Damascus would soon announce a pullback plan and predicted that it would be approved by the UN Security Council, which has called for a withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon.
Sana said that Muallim told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Syrian plans to implement the Taef accords that ended Lebanon`s civil war, which foresee a pullback of troops to the Bekaa valley but are not specific on a complete withdrawal.
Muallim said that the plan would be decided "in accord between the Syrian and Lebanese governments and as part of our respect of all resolutions of international law".
But such a move may not be enough for US President George W. Bush, who on Friday stepped up calls for a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, warning the Damascus government that there could be "no half-hearted measures."
"Syria, Syrian troops, Syrian intelligence services must get out of Lebanon now," Bush said in a speech in the town of Westfield, New Jersey.
"We want that democracy in Lebanon to succeed. And we know it cannot succeed so long as it is occupied by a foreign power. There are no half-measures involved. We mean complete withdrawal, no half-hearted measures," he added.
In Damascus, meanwhile, dozens of people gathered outside the parliament building, which is surrounded by security personnel, in a show of support for Assad and continued close ties between the two neighbours.
"One, one, one, Syria and Lebanon are but one," they chanted, as Syrian flags were waved. Others carried portraits of Assad and of his late father and predecessor, Hafez al-Assad.
"By our souls and with our blood well will defend you, Bashar. No to suspect foreign interference; yes to a wise and free decision."
A giant screen had been mounted on the side of the parliament building to permit assembled crowds to follow the president`s speech.
Since the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri last month provoked a surge in anti-Syrian sentiment, the United States and France have led the international campaign against Damascus` presence in Lebanon.
Syria and its allies in Lebanon have been widely blamed for Hariri`s murder, and mass public protests have already forced the resignation of the Beirut government.
Syria has long argued that it needs to retain troops in Lebanon because of Israel`s continued occupation of the Golan Heights, seized from Damascus in the 1967 Middle East war.
The troops entered Lebanon to try to restore peace during that country`s 15-year long civil war which ended in 1990 under the Taef agreement.
This provided for a phased redeployment of the Syrian forces but set no timetable, leaving it to agreement between Beirut and Damascus. In a series of redeployments since June 2001, Syrian troop numbers have fallen from a maximum of 40,000 to 14,000.
French President Jacques Chirac also called Friday for the complete and immediate implementation of a United Nations resolution seeking Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw warned Damascus it risked becoming a "pariah state" if it sought to maintain its nearly three-decade-old domination of its smaller neighbour.
Even Arab nations have backed the Western calls, with key donor Saudi Arabia calling for a "rapid" pullback.

03/05/2005 13:39 GMT