BEIRUT: Lebanon has some leverage in the negotiations to release its captured soldiers including the fate of Islamist detainees whom militants seek to exchange Lebanese troops for, Prime Minister Tammam Salam said.
“Some [ministers] suggested we reserve [the right] to play the Islamist card: carrying out death sentences against convicts if [militants] go far in their terror or kill a soldier,” Salam told As-Safir in an interview published Saturday.
“The important thing is that we hold such cards that we could play but we should refrain from meeting their demands and conditions ... we negotiate but we do not swap.”
There are at least 90 Islamists detainees held since 2007 over their involvement in clashes between the Lebanese Army and militants in north Lebanon. Some of them have not yet been put on trial while a few have been sentenced to death.
In an indirect response to the demands of the militants who are holding at least 23 soldiers and policemen, the government has decided to speed up the trials of the detainees and release those who have been in prison longer than any sentence they face.
“At the start of [the crisis], we remained open to the option of negotiating to free the soldiers. But not to the point of running after the terrorists,” Salam said.
He said his government had asked Qatar and Turkey to help in the negotiations, reiterating that he would remain tight-lipped on developments so as not to hinder the efforts.
Salam criticized recent protests by the families of captured soldiers who are pressuring the government to negotiate with ISIS and the Nusra Front, saying the relatives should refrain from attacking the Cabinet.
“This is an open battle with terrorism and militants can do anything they want, but the important thing is that we should not be weakened,” he said.
“We should isolate them and not respond to their conditions or demands or be dragged into a Sunni-Shiite strife because this is the main purpose of the abduction.”
Salam also spoke about the recent Iranian-Saudi rapprochement, saying improving ties between the regional powers would have a positive impact on Lebanon.
But the prime minister sounded pessimistic over an end to the political paralysis in the country in light of the presidential vacuum and the growing possibility of postponing the parliamentary election once again.
“I fear that we will reach Nov. 20 [the end of Parliament's mandate] and plunge into a full-on paralysis if the presidential election is not held before the parliamentary one.”
“Until now, there is no foreign decision to intervene in the presidential issue but at the same time, there is a decision to prevent Lebanon from collapsing,” he said.
“So now, the situation resembles that of a patient who is being injected with needed medication but is not allowed to fully recover.”
He said countries in the region have an interest in keeping Lebanon intact because a collapse could extend to neighboring states.
The PM said he was fed up with the political environment in the country, which was obstructing the state’s legislative and executive work.
“I have had it up to here with political bickering. If we remain as such, Lebanon will turn into a political jungle.”
He said several draft laws and proposals were put on hold in light of political differences including issuing eurobonds and renewing contracts for waste management company Sukleen as well as shutting down dumps in Tripoli and Naameh.
“This is the difficult Lebanese time. Lebanon has been through difficulties in its history, but today we are facing the worst phase since the Civil War.”
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