February 21, 2010 - Naharnet - Hariri: I Didn't Go to Syria to Build a Relationship with Assad, but with the Syrians

Prime Minister Saad Hariri vowed to fight extremism through stability and security, stressing that Christian-Muslim equity in Lebanon will remain safe and sound.
"The only way to fight extremism in through achieving peace, stability and security," Hariri told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in an interview published Sunday.Hariri on Saturday met Pope Benedict XVI who expressed support for the international tribunal that would try his father, ex-PM Rafik Hariri's suspected killers, hoping that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.On his visit to Syria, Hariri stressed that he did not go to Damascus to build a relationship with Syrian President Bashar Assad, but with the Syrians. In the interview, Hariri pointed to Italy's "vital role" in Lebanon, expressing hope that Rome would not cut the number of troops working among the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon."We hope Italy would not reduce the number of its troops nor would it change its policy" toward Lebanon, Hariri said. He wondered why Christians and other people immigrate."It's because there is no peace, security or stability," Hariri answered himself, noting to the presence of 1 million Iraqi refugees in Syria and at least 500,000 others in Jordan."The problem with the Christians," Hariri explained, "is that they are a small community, and they feel they have to leave." Turning to Lebanon, Hariri stressed that Christian-Muslim equity will "stay forever." Regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Hariri said the STL did not lose momentum."There is a tribunal. Let it do its job," he said, adding that Lebanon is "lucky" to reach this point in five years whereas in Sierra Leone, Hariri added, it took seven years to get U.N.'s approval to set up an international court there.