|
|
| By Israel Insider staff and partners January 21, 2006 |
|
| |
Syrian President Bashar Assad, trying to deflect criticism of his government's involvement in the assassignation of Lebanese President Rafik Hariri, accused Israel of assassinating Yasser Arafat. "Of the many assassinations that Israel carried out in a methodical and organized way, the most dangerous thing that Israel did was the assassination of President Yasser Arafat," Assad told a gathering of Arab lawyers.
"This was under the world's gaze and its silence, and not one state dared to issue a statement or stance towards this, as though nothing happened," he added.
Arafat died in Paris on November 11, 2004 at the age of 75 after being flown from his Ramallah compound to a French military hospital. Israel has denied responsibility for Arafat's illness and has denied poisoning him.
Assad also indicated Saturday his rejection of a second request by U.N. investigators to interview him in the Rafik Hariri assassination, declaring that Syria would not bow to international pressure.
Assad's uncompromising tone on what he termed a matter of national sovereignty was certain to further heighten tension with the United States and complicate the seven-month probe into the Feb. 14 truck bombing that killed the former Lebanese premier and 20 others on a Beirut street.
In two interim reports last year, the U.N commission investigating Hariri's murder implicated top Lebanese and Syrian security officials. Syria rejected the findings and tried to discredit commission witnesses.
In press interviews after his recent defection to France, former Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam said Assad had either known about or gave the orders for the assassination of Hariri.
In a speech to the Arab Lawyers Union, Assad pledged, however, to continue cooperation with the probe. The U.N. investigation has said Syria has not been sufficiently forthcoming and the Security Council demanded full cooperation.
"The issue of national sovereignty is paramount, not the (U.N.) Security Council decision or others," Assad said.
The Syrian leader did not specifically address the request by the U.N. investigation to interview with him and his foreign minister about threats Assad allegedly made against Hariri months before the Feb. 14 assassination.
That left open the possibility that Assad might later agree to meet with U.N. investigators, rather than submit to an interview.
Assad has denied he had threatened Hariri. He made no reference to Khaddam in his wide-ranging speech, the first since the former vice president, an old friend of Hariri, launched a political campaign last month against the Assad regime, accusing it of corruption and hindering reforms.
Assad rejected a request by the investigation to interview him last year as well. But the arrival of new chief investigator Serge Brammertz, a Belgian, in Beirut Thursday to begin his mission could provide a fresh start in dealing with Syria.
Brammertz, deputy prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, replaces German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, who has been sharply criticized by Syria.
Assad invoked national sovereignty, saying it supersedes any legal and political considerations.
"We should not give up our national sovereignty even if the circumstance requires that we fight for our country. We must be prepared for that."
A member of the audience interrupted, yelling: "Your dignity and ours, our leader, is the most important thing."
Assad responded: "Don't worry about this point. I am not worried about this and any other point."
Assad repeatedly was interrupted by applause and shouts of support.
"(Even) if all the Arab, Islamic and world rulers agree that Bashar Assad be questioned, we will prevent you by force (from submitting)," said Arab Lawyers Union head Sameh Ashour of Egypt.
Apparently seeking to strengthen his position at home, Assad offered his people a promise soon to continue political and economic reforms. He said the government is preparing several initiatives, including reforming election and party laws as well as those governing local administrations, "to boost popular participation and contribute to enriching political life."
In November, Assad criticized the investigation as politicized by the United States and its allies with the aim of framing Syria to punish it for its opposition to the Iraq war, support for Palestinian militants and Lebanese guerrillas. He declared Syria's innocence in the murder and said he will cooperate with the investigation but will stop if Syrian interests are harmed.
The U.N. Security Council has twice found that Syria has failed to cooperate fully. There were U.S. warnings that the council might take further action, and American officials have called on Syria to change its policies on the investigation, Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian issue.
In a further sign of hardening his position, Assad consolidated his alliance with Iran, another country facing international pressure and the threat of sanctions over its nuclear program, holding a summit with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in Damascus this week.
"Those who believe that by politicizing the investigation and taking it in different direction can push Syria to carry out what they want are wasting their time and are missing the right opportunity to bring about stability to the region, which will have a negative impact on them," Assad said, apparently referring to the United States.
Assad repeated Syria's pledges to cooperate with the investigation into the assassination, which led to international pressure that forced Syria to withdraw its army from Lebanon in April, ending nearly three decades of political and military control of the neighboring country.
"We will continue to cooperate with the investigation currently and in the future in order to find the truth," he said.
The investigation has split the Lebanese people and heightened tension between Syria and the United States.
U.N. investigators have interviewed several Syrian security officials in Syria and at U.N. offices in Vienna, some as suspects and others as witnesses. Neither Assad, nor his top political aides and the military intelligence chief have submitted to any questioning.
Assad accused Lebanese officials without naming them of rejecting several initiatives in the past months by Arab nations and the Arab League to improve relations between the two countries, saying most Lebanese want better ties.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
