Samir Geagea, head of the Christian Lebanese Forces (LF) party, said on Tuesday that Lebanon should follow up the pending issues in the relations with Syria, local Naharnet website reported.
Addressing a banquet on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Free Lebanon Radio, Geagea said it is in Lebanon's great interest to have the best of relations with Damascus.
"When it comes to Lebanon's security, a lot is required from Syria is this regard," said the leader of the LF, which was the strongest Christian militia during the 1975-1990 civil war.
He also stressed that some facts can not be ignored, including the flow of funds and arms through the borders, as well as the situation in the Palestinian refugee camps.
Syria is accused by pro-government leaders of smuggling weapons to Hezbollah via its borders with Lebanon, and of sponsoring fundamentalist militants inside and outside the Palestinian refugee camps.
Geagea said that if the Lebanese leaders who are to visit Syria can not find solutions to the issues, "then there is no point in normalizing relations."
He called for demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian borders as soon as possible.
Geagea reiterated that if Syria was proved not to be responsible for the assassinations in Lebanon, "I would be the first to apologize to Syria."
Pro-government leaders in Lebanon have been accusing Syria of masterminding the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, and several political leaders afterwards, accusations denied by Syria.
In October, Syria and Lebanon signed a joint statement on formally launching diplomatic ties for the first time since their independence from the French colonial rule in the 1940s.
Source:Xinhua
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