From Naharnet

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea snapped back Thursday at Syrian President Bashar Assad over the latter's criticism of Lebanon's so-called dissociation policy. “Lebanon's continuation of its dissociation policy is specifically in Assad's interest, because 'should Lebanon speak' it will definitely be against him,” Geagea said in a statement.

In an interview with Syria's al-Watan newspaper, Assad has noted that “Lebanon cannot dissociate itself from the blazes that are raging around it.” “It cannot endorse 'the policy of no policy' or what has been called the dissociation policy,” Assad said.

Although the Lebanese state has officially adopted the dissociation policy, Hizbullah has sent thousands of fighters into the neighboring country to help Assad fight an Islamist-led uprising. The party has argued that its controversial intervention was necessary to protect Lebanese border towns from extremist groups.

On the other hand it was also reported that an assassination plot could be planned against him, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat pointed the finger at the Syrian regime saying it is the “primary suspect” behind such a plot, As Safir daily reported Thursday.

Jumblat said he believes that the “biggest winner who will benefit from my assassination is the Syrian regime which has grown stronger after the field developments on the battlefront in Syria,” he told the daily.

“In compliance with the security advice, I am residing most of the time at Moukhtara. If it was not for a minor surgery that I had to take in one of my eyes, I would not have come to my residence in Clemenceau in such circumstances,” he went on to say.

by Joseph A. Kechichian, Senior Writer

Beirut: Syrian President Bashar Al Assad has lashed out at Lebanon over its disassociation policy approved in 2012, which ensured that Lebanon’s political factions did not take sides in Syria’s civil war. The policy miraculously managed to save Lebanon from being dragged into the brutal war next door, despite the fact that Hezbollah ignored the policy as it openly fought alongside Al Assad forces in Syria.

In an interview with the Damascus daily Al Watan, the Syrian president said, “Lebanon cannot be dissociated from the fires flaring up [in the region] and [cannot] adopt the policy of no politics or what is called the disassociation policy.” Observers believe it was a direct warning to recently elected president Michel Aoun not to forget that he has to answer to Damascus. “As long as the [president] is a patriot and works in favour of the Lebanese, Lebanon will become stronger. And when Lebanon is strong, Syria will be at ease and stronger,” Al Assad said. Aoun reconciled with pro-Syrian parties in Lebanon too, especially Hezbollah, which chose to fight alongside the Ba’ath regime.

It remains unclear whether Aoun will now abolish or alter the 2012 “Baabda Declaration” that was approved by rival March 8 and March 14 leaders — including Hezbollah — to “keep Lebanon away from the policy of regional and international conflicts and sparing it the negative repercussions of regional tensions and crises”.

On Wednesday, Aoun received the pro-regime Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmad Badr Al Deen Hassoun, accompanied by Syria’s Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim, which raised the ire of a leading pro-opposition journalist, Carol Maalouf. Maalouf attacked the head-of-state and Cardinal Mar Bisharah Butros Al Ra‘i (who also welcomed the Mufti) on her Facebook page that mobilised supporters and opponents alike.