Geagea Rejects Assad's Remarks that Syria is 'Last Bastion of Secularism'

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Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday noted that Syrian President Bashar Assad is trying to “scare” Christians by claiming that Syria is the "last bastion of secularism, stability and coexistence in the region."

In an interview on the pan-Arab satellite TV network Al-Jazeera, Geagea called on Syria's Christians to "take part in the revolution in their country."

"The regime is trying to scare them from Islamic extremism so that they endorse it, knowing that it was the first side that dealt blows to Christians,” Geagea added.

"Remarks that the Syrian regime is the last bastion of secularism and free political systems in the Middle East are remarks that are not realistic," Geagea stressed.

The LF leader noted that "the side that has inflicted the greatest harm on Christians, not only in Syria but also in Lebanon, is this regime."

"We don't want protection from anyone, we rather want freedom, democracy, equality and justice and after that Christians in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt or anywhere can manage their affairs on their own," Geagea added.

Turning to Syria's armed conflict between the regime and insurgents, Geagea called on the Arab states to "at least arm the opposition factions whose identity is clear so that they can continue their revolution in a proper manner and in order to to end the Syrian crisis as quick as possible."

"The more the Syrian crisis protracts, the more destruction and divisions it will cause and the more it will push groups of people towards extremism," Geagea warned.

Assad on Thursday rejected calls that he seek a safe exit, vowing he would "live in Syria and die in Syria" in an interview with Russian-backed international channel RT.

"I am not a puppet. I was not made by the West to go to the West or to any other country," Assad, who is facing a nearly 20-month revolt against his rule, told the channel in English, according to transcripts posted on the state-backed Russian news channel's website.

"I am Syrian, I was made in Syria, I have to live in Syria and die in Syria," he said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday floated the idea of granting Assad safe passage from the country, saying it "could be arranged" though he wanted the Syrian leader to face international justice.

Assad also warned against a foreign intervention to deal with Syria's escalating conflict, saying such a move would have global consequences and shake regional stability.

"We are the last stronghold of secularism and stability in the region... it will have a domino effect that will affect the world from the Atlantic to the Pacific," he said.

"I do not think the West is going (to intervene), but if they do so, nobody can tell what is next," Assad said.

In a separate video extract of the interview, Assad also said: "The price of this invasion, if it happens, is going to be big, more than the whole world can afford."

Many in Syria's opposition, including armed rebels waging fierce battles with pro-regime forces, have urged the international community to intervene to stop escalating bloodshed in the country that rights groups say has left more than 37,000 people dead.

Comments 13
Missing gabby8 over 11 years

Bravo ya Geagea. The Hezz and Syria can't stand it that people are taking back to them.

Thumb andre.jabbour over 11 years

Bye bye Bashar...

Default-user-icon Phatto Zoghrabdji (Guest) over 11 years

Where is he going? When? Soon? How soon? Alone? Will he be back? You may wake up now.

Missing vaclav_havel over 11 years

"We don't want protection from anyone, we rather want freedom, democracy, equality and justice and after that Christians in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt or anywhere can manage their affairs on their own,"
Right on the Spot! Çà c'est du parfait! même si je ne suis pas un sympathisant de GeaGea cette phrase représente la vérité en soi!

Thumb andre.jabbour over 11 years

Yes, spot on!

Missing gabby8 over 11 years

After 20 months if bashar needs to make statements like these, he is desperate to keep up appearances. Funny it came a day after his palace was shelled and they had to turn off the lights.

Thumb jcamerican over 11 years

Isn't that the same guy who wanted the chouf christians to fight the moslems? Wasn't he scaring them from the moslems? Now Bashar is doing it, it is rejected by who?

Thumb kanaandian over 11 years

You do not want the rebels armed anymore.
If it comes down to that, just take Assad out. Do not fund these dirty mujahideen characters whose 3 words spoken are: takbeer, allahu and akbar.
I understand majority are not, but good number are enemies of our people.
DO NOT ARM THE REBELS. STAY ON THE SIDELINES. NEITHER SIDE IS OUR FRIEND.

Thumb Chupachups over 11 years

who is that filthy person in ur pic? LOL... ohh it is whats his name..Assirrrrr.....but this guy makes me laugh more than nasrallah, cos his face looks funny.

Missing allouchi over 11 years

Hakim is a very courageous and smart man, may god protect our next president (inshallah) and let the dogs bark...

Missing forces over 11 years

Phoenix can't agree more my friend, the day we Lebanese give up the za3im mentality and follow true progress whatever side it belongs to, is the day Lebanon starts to heal from years of pain and suffering. Lets hope some of our regular armchair professors are as forward thinking when the time comes

Missing allouchi over 11 years

kaka, you are a boring idiot...

Missing samiam over 11 years

karmim's posts in summary--

either you are with us (the persiofacists) and everyone else is a wahabbi puppet. somehow the US, Europe, Australia and most of the far east are wahabbists and Russia, China, and Syria are bastions of democracy and freedom.

LOL

Note: Syria is not our friend, nor has it ever been our friend. Why is it that this so called friendly neighbor has never even attempted to demark its borders with us for 70 years and it took it until 2008 to actually formalize diplomatic relations. We almost have relations as good with our southern neighbors.