Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlallah has warned against an Israeli intervention in Lebanese affairs "since Lebanon is vulnerable at the moment," An Nahar reported Sunday. "Resolution 1559 is related to Lebanon and speaks about the presence of foreign troops and about the resistance in Lebanon. But did anyone consult Lebanon? Is Lebanon a minor? Isn't it a UN member? I would like to ask one question, does U.S. President (George Bush) possess legitimacy in his country more than that of Lebanese President (Emile Lahoud) in his country?" asked Dakhlallah.

Speaking in a talk show on the Lebanon-based ANB satellite TV channel from which the paper carried excerpts, Dakhlallah said UN Security Council resolution 1559 was meant to intimidate Lebanon and Syria. He added that the internationalization of the Lebanese issue was aimed at achieving peace in the region after the U.S. presidential elections in November by taking into consideration American and Israeli interests. "I think the internationalization of the Lebanese issue aims at intimidating the region to achieve peace by overcoming all obstacles between the U.S. and Israel and thus reaching a peaceful solution that meets the Israeli and American perspective," Dakhlallah said.

According to Dakhlallah, the Syrian presence in Lebanon is temporary and governed by mutual agreements between the legitimate authorities of both countries. He added that the resistance group Hizbullah was the result of the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory. "Nobody wants resistance in Lebanon or the presence of foreign troops. But the resistance in Lebanon is the result of the Israeli aggression, occupation and violation of Lebanese airspace," Dakhlallah said.

Speaking of the Syrian-Christian ties, Dakhlallah said: "...Syria in general supports all Lebanese. The red line is standing against Lebanon's national interest and collaborating with the enemy. Syria's strategic policy is to protect the Christians and preserve their presence in the east...The Christians represent a major factor in the east. Syria will not allow attempts to expel the Christians from the east," Dakhlallah said.

An Nahar reported that Lebanese opposition MP Fares Soueid responded to Dakhlallah's comments by saying, "What ensures the Christians' presence and freedom is their co-existence with Muslims in Lebanon in a sovereign and independent country. Christians do not seek guardianship from anyone. The Christians are not a foreign community that was found in the east by surprise. We affirm that we are a group that interacts with all other Lebanese groups." Soueid added that achieving democratic systems that protects human rights caters for the presence of both Christians and Muslims in the east.