"I don't know when I will visit Syria, but we are preparing for a visit that befits the occasion regionally, and there will be a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad." What the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, said is not just "media hype." Close circles to the Syrian regime confirm that the visit will indeed happen this time, although the date and program have not yet been determined. Meanwhile, Bassil's party dismisses any knowledge of the date and confirms it is only registered in Bassil's agenda, as is the case with the program. However, it is assumed that the main topic for discussion will focus on the issue of the return of Syrian displaced persons and the mechanism to expedite it. Publicly, this is the case, but it is certain that the issues Bassil will bring will revolve around one topic: the election of a president for the republic. Opposition circles suggest that the core of the meeting with Assad will involve convincing him to pressure his natural ally, former MP Sleiman Frangieh, to support Bassil's presidential candidacy and to remove him from the opposing ranks, or at least persuade Hezbollah and his ally Nabih Berri to adopt Bassil's nomination. Will this visit, which Bassil has hinted at since the beginning of the year, take place?
In January of this year, Bassil's visit was replaced by a political delegation led by former Minister Tarek El-Khatib. At that time, political circles linked the visit to the approaching parliamentary elections on May 15 and the presidential elections that were supposed to happen at the end of October before Michel Aoun's term ended. However, clarification came from members of the delegation confirming that the visit was in response to an invitation from the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, Hilal Hilal, and had no connection to the dates for the parliamentary and presidential elections.
It is certain that this visit broke the ice, and thus, Gebran Bassil made his decisive decision last April to visit Damascus soon. It was expected that the date would be determined later in a manner suitable for both the guest and host, given the importance of the anticipated unconventional visit and the necessary preparations required from both parties to ensure its success, achieving this goal.
Bassil's forthcoming visit to Syria will be the first of its kind for a head of a parliamentary bloc and for the leader of a significant political movement spread across Lebanese territory, according to former minister Gaby Leon. He clarifies via "Al-Markaziya" that the visit's timing is completely separate from the presidential election issue, just as it was when the announcement was made regarding his trip to Syria on the eve of the parliamentary elections. Although the program for the visit has not been announced, he asserts that the issue of the return of displaced Syrians will be a priority in the meetings, knowing that the mechanism established by General Security Director Abbas Ibrahim is good and required considerable effort, which is appreciated, but it is essential to expedite this mechanism.
The second point to be discussed will be the delineation of maritime borders with Syria and the exclusive economic zone. In this context, Leon explains in response to a question about the Syrian refusal to receive the delegation originally scheduled to visit Syria led by Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab that "the Syrian side did not refuse the visit of the delegation, but perhaps there was a misunderstanding and poor coordination, and it did not relate at all to the level of representation."
Regarding the presidential election, Leon affirms that the topic will certainly be raised but on the basis of non-interference in internal affairs, which is confirmed by the Free Patriotic Movement. The reality is that the Syrian side will likely wish for Bassil that the Lebanese reach a conclusion on the election of a president as soon as possible, and we will not have a candidate more cherished than Deputy Gebran Bassil. Concerning domestic issues, he indicates that the Free Patriotic Movement firmly rejects external impositions concerning sovereignty, which is not new.
As for whether Bassil will raise with Assad the issue of pressuring Frangieh to withdraw in favor of the head of the movement, Leon confirmed that Bassil has publicly stated his rejection of Frangieh's nomination in front of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. He believes that Frangieh is the inappropriate person to continue the political track prepared by Michel Aoun. As of now, there is no information about the date of Bassil's visit to Damascus, but it will happen this time, and Bassil will head a delegation, as he is the leader of the largest parliamentary bloc, a member of parliament, independent in his decisions, and a key player in Lebanese politics... "Do you need anything else?" Leon concludes.
