An open letter to Dr.Bachar Assad, an Editorial by Gebran Tuéni in moderate An-Nahar (3/23)

"Allow me, to write to you, without knowing you personally, this frank editorial in this sensitive period which the region is passing through.

You visited Lebanon several times and met many politicians, who perhaps, told you what you would like to hear. However, what you hear is not always what you should hear about the Lebanese’ opinion in Syria’s policy in Lebanon.

Many of these politicians are afraid of Syria. They don’t like it. We believe that fear can never help in uncovering the truth that can develop relations to what we crave and desire.

You should know that many Lebanese are neither at ease with the Syrian policy in Lebanon, nor the Syrian ‘presence’ in Lebanon. This does not mean —like some people would like — that these Lebanese are traitors or Israeli allies. It only means a natural aspiration for sovereignty and independence. It also means that they resent the way Syria deals with Lebanon, they detest it and reject it.

You are a person who believes in education. You just have to do a little calculation — simple and honest — for the Syrian policy in Lebanon and study the reality of this policy and the "real" Lebanese opinion of it.

Just ask yourself the following question: what would the Lebanese reaction be following a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon? How would the relationship between Lebanon and Syria be? Would Syria still have real allies in Lebanon? Did Syria produce friends or enemies as a result of its presence in Lebanon for 25 years?

I tell you frankly, many Lebanese consider the Syrian performance in Lebanon as completely against the understanding of sovereignty, honor, and independence.

Many of our and your generation — the generation of war knew nothing of the Syrian presence except military "differences" and political differences. This generation only knows what they saw and heard from the political class —this political class that reached high official levels by Syrian help — they only mutilated (not service) the Syrian image in Lebanon.

You know that there is blood between some of the Lebanese and the Syrian Army. You know hat our generation inherited a war. This generation was not the reason for this war. We do not like to have wars until eternity. Anyway, there are neither eternal wars nor eternal enmities.

You know that the Lebanese stick to his freedom, honor, independence, and sovereignty and revolts when he feels that the Syrian performance is a threat to freedom, honor, independence and sovereignty. This is why the Lebanese fought, kidnapped, took people to prison and were imprisoned.

We approach you in your capacity as a member of he new generation, the generation of youth that believes in the future and might be held responsible for building the future in Syria. We approach you to tell you that it is necessary that our generation be assured of the independence of Lebanon and that Syria recognizes this independence, the sovereignty of the land, organizations, freedom…

We have to be assured that the Syrian performance in Lebanon will not be practiced with the mentality of victor and defeated. We are not a Syrian province. We have to be assured that Syria decided to deal with the kind of Lebanese Politicians who are free and who really represent their people and their nation. Syria should not deal with the Politicians who decided to be "follower."

What prompted us to be frank with you is the presence of Emile Lahoud as a President, and what we hope his presence to bring a change in the Syrian-Lebanese relations. Furthermore what prompted us to be frank is you being responsible for the Lebanese file and the change we felt in the performance in the Syrian performance on the Lebanese arena since you adopted the responsibility of this file.

People, Dr. Bachar, ask about Lebanon’s future and the significance behind the presence of the Syrian army in Lebanon. They also ask if the price of peace is putting your hand on Lebanon for good.

People are afraid for their future and afraid for Lebanon’s destiny and identity. They believe that Syria did not recognize and will not recognize and does not want to recognize Lebanon as a free independent Country.

People ask if Syria would have accepted Lebanon to deal with it the way it dealt with Lebanon if one day roles got reversed?

Would Syria have accepted Lebanon to interfere in every detail in the Syrian domestic policy the way Syria did with Lebanon?

People reject this way in dealing with Lebanon? They refuse the principle of pre-fabricated voting lists in Damascus and the ‘blessing’ that comes from above to be imposed on the people.

People reject arresting Lebanese in Syrian prisons.

People reject keepers.

Yes, the Lebanese resent this policy, although it started to reduce when Lahoud became President and you received the responsibility of the Lebanese file.

You have, Dr. Bachar, to understand these things and understand the reasons that made the people, or some of these people feel this way towards Syria.

We talk to you frankly, with the frankness of youth, because this President wants to govern under the banner of frankness and transparency.

Syria needs Lebanon and Lebanon needs Syria if we want to confront the future following a peace settlement — and not pay the price of peace.

A healthy Lebanon strengthens the Syrian position.

Lebanon should be a full partner. We have to be together to confront the upcoming phase and Israel.

There are some Lebanese fears that are getting deeper. There are people who believe that Syria is an enemy. You have to face this reality to be able to solve this problem.

You have to help your allies, not your followers. You have to help President Lahoud convince the Lebanese of the new Syrian policy in Lebanon so that we can open a new chapter in our bilateral relations, relations on a governmental level only.

You should know that civil peace in Lebanon is still weak. Some Lebanese believe that there is a big problem on the level of representation in the Parliament. And there is a problem on the level of Lebanese-Lebanese dialogue because of the direct Syrian interference in Lebanese politics.

The Lebanese people attach great importance to the extent of the Syrian interference in the next parliamentary elections. They attach great importance to the Syrian presence and the fact that the Ta’if accord is not yet implemented, people ask for the time table of this implementations and are waiting for answers hoping that this implementation be a gift for President Lahoud.

Syria should strengthen the Lebanese presence in the negotiations. We should be effective participants on the negotiating table, coordinating with Syria over a united strategy.

Lebanese absence from the negotiations would push the Lebanese to think that Syria does not want Lebanon as a sovereign country and that the price of its accepting a settlement is keeping Lebanon as a satellite country under its dominance. This is not acceptable and will not be accepted by anybody after twenty years of war and sacrifices. Anyway, the Lebanese absence from negotiations will weaken Syria — not strengthen it.

The Lebanese people are heroes. They have nothing to do with these politicians Syria deals with and Syria helped.

We approach you Dr. Bachar, frankly and with an open heart to carry some of our silent fears. If somebody said all that before we would not have reached this level of relations with Syria.

It is time to be frank, whatever this frankness costs. We have to say things by its name. The fruit of frankness is steadfast relations and real cooperation. The fruit of lies is more fear and resentment and is damaging to both Syria and Lebanon.

Don’t you think that a relationship built on frankness means respect?

Don’t you think that we paid dearly for the policy of the old generation?

Some might ask about the significance of our words today, the timing and the frankness.

Our answer is this: Don’t be afraid of the people who are frank with you. Don’t be afraid of their transparency. If you have differences with them, the result will be a real agreement. The policy of the heroes of lies is known: Today they are with you tomorrow they are against you. For them there is no difference between being nationalistic or traitors, between stabbing an enemy or a friend in the back, --even stabbing oneself."