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Europe Moves Closer
to U.S. Stance That Syria Must Leave Lebanon
 by:
Europe is seen moving
close to the U.S. stance that Syria should bow out from Lebanon, resenting
the official position of the two countries that the continued presence of
the Syria army is necessary for Lebanon's stability.
"This change of stance may be a logical result from the change in the
U.S. stance, from silence about the Syrian presence…to labeling its as
an 'occupation' of Lebanon," wrote analyst Rosana Bou Monceff in an
editorial carried by An Nahar Sunday.
One example of the European shift is the declaration made by Pope
John-Paul II during a recent meeting with Lebanese ambassador Naji Abi
Assi.
"Lebanon should regain its full independence, complete sovereignty
and its freedom bereft of any ambiguity," the head of the Catholic
Church had said.
Many European governments are now reluctant to accept Lebanon's official
explanation for refusing to deploy the Lebanese army en masse on the
border with Israel, keeping the volatile frontline under the effective
control of Hizbullah, the writer noted.
"This change of heart may not mean that an orchestrated international
drive to coerce Syria into leaving Lebanon is under way, at least for the
time being," Bou Monceff argued. "But this does not mean that
the current state of affairs that ignores the international change of
stance would be excused without great colossal prices on various levels."
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