By Daily Star Editorial  

It was the Syrian foreign minister’s turn to address the public Wednesday, as he offered the latest spirited defense of the embattled government in Damascus. Walid al-Moallem was given the floor, so to speak, to elaborate on President Bashar Assad’s comments the day before, but the diplomat was obviously not authorized to change or modify any of the many promises of reform by the Syrian president.

Moallem acknowledged how he advised the Syrian authorities in 2003 to ignore Europe and its influence, and was offering the same advice today. But it is clear that the Syrian government did not heed the advice; since then, Damascus made considerable efforts to secure European help in exiting its isolation, and France was one of the main parties that came to the rescue.

If Syrian officials act based on Moallem’s blanket dismissal of the importance of Europe this time, what will be the result? Does Syria truly intend to sever ties with one of the most important parts of the developed world, and one of the linchpins of its economy?

It’s a worrying sign that Syria wants to drive another nail into the coffin of its relationship with the European Union, which is based solidly on economic ties.
In the past, Syrian politicians have boasted how their economy is relatively free of the crippling debt that saddles other developing nations, but Assad was obliged to acknowledge one day earlier that the country’s economy was in dire straits.

Moallem’s pronouncements were an attempt to win applause from the local public, even though any serious drive by Damascus to ignore Europe will only mean more hardship for the average Syrian.
The comments raise questions about the possible ramifications for Lebanon. If the Syrian government fights back against the European stance on Assad’s actions, attention will be directed to South Lebanon, where European peacekeepers form the bulk of the UNIFIL force. In the past, Syria has quietly guaranteed the safety of these peacekeeping troops.

Another consequence for Syria’s anti-Europe stance would involve Lebanon, which Moallem mentioned as one of the few friendly countries taking the side of Damascus as it battles with a popular uprising.
Leading Lebanese banks and companies have opened branches and expanded operations in their neighbor to the east, and the European role in these enterprises is significant, since they either trade with the EU or benefit from expertise and cooperation.

Moallem’s cavalier remarks on Europe are an insult to the intelligence of Europeans, Lebanese and Syrians, at a time when the situation requires wise decisions and the keeping of promises, and problem-solving, not fiery rhetoric. It’s a time in which the margin for error is shrinking dramatically.