Post-Assad Syria would drop special Iran ties

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The collapse of the 40-year-old Assad regime in Syria would radically change the politics of the Middle East, reducing the influence of Iran and its Islamist proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon, the main Syrian opposition leader in exile has said.

Syria would align itself with the Arab League and the Gulf, Syrian National Council leader Burhan Ghalioun told the Wall Street Journal in an interview in France.

“Our future is truly tied to the Arab world and the Gulf in particular,” he was quoted as saying in a WSJ transcript.

Damascus would have no special relationship with Iran and Hezbollah if President Bashar al-Assad lost power, he said.

“The current relationship between Syria and Iran is abnormal,” Ghalioun told the daily. “Syria is the centre of the Arab Orient. It cannot live outside its relationship with the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf countries, Egypt and others.”

“There will be no special relationship with Iran. This is the core issue – the military alliance. Breaking the exceptional relationship means breaking the strategic military alliance. We do not mind economic relations.”

Syria has had close ties with Tehran since the early years of the Islamic Republic of Iran, founded in 1979.

“As our relations with Iran change, so too will our relationship with Hezbollah. Hezbollah after the fall of the Syrian regime will not be the same. Lebanon should not be used as it was used in the Assad era as an arena to settle political scores,” Ghalioun told the paper.

Ghalioun did not go into likely relations with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. He said the Council had links to the Palestine Liberation Organization, of which Hamas is not currently a member.

Regional sources told Reuters on Friday that the Iranian-backed Palestinian movement is quietly reducing its presence in its long-term Damascus headquarters as Assad’s future looks uncertain.

They said the Hamas delegation in the Syrian capital, which once numbered hundreds of exiled Palestinian officials and their relatives, had shrunk to a few dozen.

In Beirut, a Hamas representative said the group was “still committed to supporting Assad.”

NO-FLY ZONE?

Ghalioun said the Council sought political and financial support from “the Arab League, the EU, Turkey, and the West.”

“We asked to apply pressure on Russia and China and to make use of all civilian protection measures. This is why (French) foreign minister (Alain) Juppe called for a humanitarian corridor.”

“Our main objective is finding mechanisms to protect civilians and stop the killing machine. If a humanitarian corridor is able to achieve this, then that is important,” the Syrian National Council leader said.

A humanitarian corridor and a buffer zone “doesn’t mean military intervention to topple the regime,” he stressed.

“This is different than the organized military intervention that happened in Iraq for regime change. We count on Syrians to bring down the Syrian regime. We want the international community to stop the oppression of the Syrian people.”

If Russia could be convinced that Assad’s opponents and the West were not considering military intervention in Syria, as NATO did in Libya, Moscow might be persuaded not to use its U.N. Security Council veto to block humanitarian intervention.

But Ghalioun also mentioned a no-fly zone, which implies a degree of military intervention.

“We will meet with the foreign minister of Turkey who is thinking of this with the Europeans to discuss the developments in what he mentioned as a no-fly zone,” Ghalioun said.

“Assad got several offers of asylum,” he told the paper at his home near Paris. “The Arab League and Turkey offered to help find him a safe haven. It is clear that he wants to continue and I believe he is not mature and he doesn’t have a grasp on reality. He is delusional.”

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42 responses to “Post-Assad Syria would drop special Iran ties”

  1. Thank God!!! Finally, a Syria that will be free and democratic, away from Hizb, Hamas, and Iran, and a country that will respect the Lebanese government, so we can finally respect their government, as well. Hopefully, this will all work out and Syria will be in shock, to see all the tourists from Europe, America, everywhere, once they feel comfortable in visiting Syria….no reason it cannot be like Turkey or Jordan, where tourists feel safe, and where people can breath freely, and their MINDS, can be free as well…no more brainwashing the Syrian youth with outdated textbooks, and bullshit about the yahood….leave the damn yahood alone, show them you want peace, they will give the Julan, and enough of this silliness…..after all these years, it will finally, finally be over….what did Bath Assad do for the good people of Syria, besides shut the doors on their minds for 40+ years, brainwash them, abuse them, slaughter them, and make them think the rest of the world was evil…..these poor people have suffered enough, and when the one’s who were brainwashed all those years, find out the truth, as to how the rest of the FREE world REALLY lives, they are going to be in shock….

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Just get the tourists back to Lebanon …. please.

  2. Thank God!!! Finally, a Syria that will be free and democratic, away from Hizb, Hamas, and Iran, and a country that will respect the Lebanese government, so we can finally respect their government, as well. Hopefully, this will all work out and Syria will be in shock, to see all the tourists from Europe, America, everywhere, once they feel comfortable in visiting Syria….no reason it cannot be like Turkey or Jordan, where tourists feel safe, and where people can breath freely, and their MINDS, can be free as well…no more brainwashing the Syrian youth with outdated textbooks, and bullshit about the yahood….leave the damn yahood alone, show them you want peace, they will give the Julan, and enough of this silliness…..after all these years, it will finally, finally be over….what did Bath Assad do for the good people of Syria, besides shut the doors on their minds for 40+ years, brainwash them, abuse them, slaughter them, and make them think the rest of the world was evil…..these poor people have suffered enough, and when the one’s who were brainwashed all those years, find out the truth, as to how the rest of the FREE world REALLY lives, they are going to be in shock….

    1.  Avatar

      Just get the tourists back to Lebanon …. please.

  3. Burhan Ghalioun for President of Syria…..obviously, it’s going to happen…the man  is worldly and a genius…if anyone can turn Syria around quickly, it will be him….

  4. Burhan Ghalioun for President of Syria…..obviously, it’s going to happen…the man  is worldly and a genius…if anyone can turn Syria around quickly, it will be him….

  5. Sebouh80 Avatar

    I have to remind the friendly viewers at Ya Libnan that the so called Burhan Ghalion is  nothing more than  an “Imperialist Stooge”. This is a fact no one can deny.
    He is the product of US, France, despotic Gulf States and Turkey.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Sounds like an ‘all-around’ guy … basically perhaps what’s needed, Sebouh.

    2. and there is something wrong with that??? It would be nice for people to just get over their hate for the west…

      1. Sebouh80 Avatar

        Hi Fadi,

        On the contrary, I do not hate the West, but I seem to have a problem with their foreign policy which I have always considered “double standard” especially in matters relating to democracy, human rights and accountability this is not only evident in Middle East but also with most developing countries. For example, the West today is putting draconian sanctions against the Assad regime, and yet at the same time giving Bahrain, Yemen, and Egypt a blind eye on all the crackdown that we saw so far.
        Fadi, the truth is,
        The Syrian National Council no more represents the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Syrian people than the ruthless Assad regime, or the council’s counterpart in Libya. It is a fractious coalition of organisations representing dissident sections of the Syrian bourgeoisie seeking to establish their own anti-democratic regime in Damascus with the backing of the Western powers.

        1. Sebouh80, you are very wrong about Burhan, my friend. And let me tell you, the Arab countries would be much better off aligned with the West, then with Iran, Russia and China. Think about it….Once Bashar and his assholes are gone, you will see how the West will invest in the infrastructure of Syria, and help build it up….The people of the Middle East, are tired of fighting every day, for over 60 or more years, and want their children to be raised differently, then their grandparents, parents, and themselves. Islam, Christianity, Druze, Alawite, whatever, as that is not the issue…freedom and democracy and a fair chance for all to live and prosper, are the issues. Bath Assad choked Syria for 45 years. I have been there, and was shocked to see how nervous the people are and how backward the country is. Ha’ram….bigtime shame…..

    3. and there is something wrong with that??? It would be nice for people to just get over their hate for the west…

  6.  Avatar

    I have to remind the friendly viewers at Ya Libnan that the so called Burhan Ghalion is  nothing more than  an “Imperialist Stooge”. This is a fact no one can deny.
    He is the product of US, France, despotic Gulf States and Turkey.

    1.  Avatar

      Sounds like an ‘all-around’ guy … basically perhaps what’s needed, Sebouh.

    2.  Avatar

      and there is something wrong with that??? It would be nice for people to just get over their hate for the west…

      1.  Avatar

        Hi Fadi,

        On the contrary, I do not hate the West, but I seem to have a problem with their foreign policy which I have always considered “double standard” especially in matters relating to democracy, human rights and accountability this is not only evident in Middle East but also with most developing countries. For example, the West today is putting draconian sanctions against the Assad regime, and yet at the same time giving Bahrain, Yemen, and Egypt a blind eye on all the crackdown that we saw so far.
        Fadi, the truth is,
        The Syrian National Council no more represents the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Syrian people than the ruthless Assad regime, or the council’s counterpart in Libya. It is a fractious coalition of organisations representing dissident sections of the Syrian bourgeoisie seeking to establish their own anti-democratic regime in Damascus with the backing of the Western powers.

        1. Sebouh80, you are very wrong about Burhan, my friend. And let me tell you, the Arab countries would be much better off aligned with the West, then with Iran, Russia and China. Think about it….Once Bashar and his assholes are gone, you will see how the West will invest in the infrastructure of Syria, and help build it up….The people of the Middle East, are tired of fighting every day, for over 60 or more years, and want their children to be raised differently, then their grandparents, parents, and themselves. Islam, Christianity, Druze, Alawite, whatever, as that is not the issue…freedom and democracy and a fair chance for all to live and prosper, are the issues. Bath Assad choked Syria for 45 years. I have been there, and was shocked to see how nervous the people are and how backward the country is. Ha’ram….bigtime shame…..

  7. prophettt Avatar

    Ghalioun is playing the same role Ahamad Chalabi of Iraq played  in 2003,and the same role Saad Haddad and Antoine Lahad  played in South Lebanon.Some one needs to remind him of where all these people,and all of those who seek the help of foreign troops against their own people, ended up.
    Until this day, Millions of Algerians are called traitors, thousands of Lebanese live in Israel  where they are not even wanted.
    Once American troops leave Iraq, tens of thousands of Iraqis will leave with them.
    Even if some one has a noble cause, once you seek foreign military intervention, you are guaranteed to end up on the wrong side of history. Collaborators are usually the type of people who are self centered,and selfishly hungry for power or money,and who are willing to justify their actions anyway they can.No matter how hard they try,or how successful they become, they can never change the definition of  a collaborator, which is: to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one’s country.
    This is no longer a revolution against a dictator(Assad is ,and his regime is one of the most oppressive)and it is no longer a protest demanding democracy and freedom, but rather a plan to install an even more radical and oppressive regime of which Israel ‘s safety is the main goal.

  8.  Avatar

    Ghalion is playing the same role Ahamad Chalabi of Iraq played  in 2003,and the same role Saad Haddad and Antoine Lahad  played in South Lebanon.Some one needs to remind him of where all these people,and all of those who seek the help of foreign troops against their own people, ended up.
    Until this day, Millions of Algerians are called traitors, thousands of Lebanese live in Israel  where they are not even wanted.
    Once American troops leave Iraq, tens of thousands of Iraqis will leave with them.
    Even if some one has a noble cause, once you seek foreign military intervention, you are guaranteed to end up on the wrong side of history. Collaborators are usually the type of people who are self centered,and selfishly hungry for power or money,and who are willing to justify their actions anyway they can.No matter how hard they try,or how successful they become, they can never change the definition of  a collaborator, which is: to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one’s country.

    1.  Avatar

      Hi Prophettt,
      True, America will pull out of Iraq, but my guess is that it will still leave behind thousands of mercenaries ala Blackwater and other private armies roaming the country. Besides US army since the beginning of the invasion of Iraq was always depending on the services of these notorious private armies.
      I agree with your viewpoint concerning Syria.

      1.  Avatar

        Hi Sebouh,
        You are right, they will leave thousands  of personal under different disguises. I even read that the embassy personal will be as high as 18 thousand “civilian “employees.
        No matter what they do, they lost,and Blackwatwer and the CIA could not get all Iraqis to cooperate when they worked with full authority,and out in the open,and I guarantee you the environment they will live in won’t be a friendly one . Leaving thousands of military and civilian personal will only prolong the suffering of Iraqis,and also postpone the official announcement of loosing the war in Iraq until after the US election.
        To clearify what I said about Iraqis leaving with the Americans in my original comment, I  meant to say that most Iraqis who collaborated with the occupying forces, will not find comfort living in Iraq anymore, they would be allowed to relocate into the states and other European countries. I know many Iraqis are moving into the Detroit area already.Visas are suddenly becoming easy to get in Bagadad for those who worked with the US forces during the last 8 years.

    2.  Avatar

      You are wrong about Lebanese in Israel. They’ve become well integrated into society (much more than Arabs who have lived in Israel for decades). In my city of Haifa, my local grocery is owned by Lebanese who have very friendly relations with the neighborhood. Most of them even send their kids to the army. 

      And anyway, it seems like Ghalioun will be much more effective at securing the Golan Heights be returned to Syria (which, although mentioned above, he mentioned in the same interview). It will be amazing to see how fast Israelis respond to gestures of diplomacy rather than threats. 

    3.  Avatar

      The traitors and collaborators are those who support and allow this oppresive regime to continue operating with impunity…Seeking help from the west and other progressive nations when unarmed and under the gun is all that is left for some. America is a nation of MANY people, and from all walks of life from all corners of the globe. Id rather see America help Lebanon or Syria before I see Iran helping, as there are far more Lebanese and Syrians that have been absorbed into these western nations. It is those nationals living abroad who still care for their homeland who will push for intervention. Wether intervention comes or not, if the current regime stays in power where do you think the people crying for democracy will end up? probably 6ft under ground rather than exile in a foreign country.

      1.  Avatar

        yu collaboratored with zionist tu fue

      2.  Avatar

        yu collaboratored with zionist tu fue

        1.  Avatar

          I think that’s ‘Tofu’ … a Chinese thing … Mais, ‘tu est fu’ peut-etre? … might appeal to Leo. 🙂

        2.  Avatar

          I think that’s ‘Tofu’ … a Chinese thing … Mais, ‘tu est fu’ peut-etre? … might appeal to Leo. 🙂

  9. dabshaleem Avatar
    dabshaleem

    gholion is zioniste ha wil champyu 

    1. Why don’t you move to Iran?

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        Good idea … he wouldn’t have the internet connections … 😉

  10.  Avatar

    gholion is zioniste ha wil champyu 

    1. Why don’t you move to Iran?

      1.  Avatar

        Good idea … he wouldn’t have the internet connections … 😉

  11.  Avatar

    gholion is zioniste ha wil champyu 

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