BEIRUT: What follows are extracts of a statement by the Syrian National Council read by March 14 Secretary-General Fares Souaid at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Center on the seventh anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination.

“Dear Lebanese brethren, from Syria ... We salute you on the seventh anniversary of the assassination of Rafik Hariri.”

“Your victory in 2005 represented the first blow to the Syrian regime and forced the withdrawal of the Syrian regime's forces from Lebanon.”

“We, Lebanese and Syrians, have a mutual cause. We always reiterate that democracy in Syria is the base of stability and democracy in Lebanon.”

“We stand in solidarity with you ... on this occasion. We would like to confirm, contrary to Assad’s allegations, that our revolution, which fights with its flesh, does not need to use your territory in the face of Assad.”

“With the support of Arab and international brethren, the Chinese and the Russians will not succeed in aborting our revolution.”

“We will establish diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon as two independent countries and not under the [Syrian regime's] slogan of ‘one people in two countries.’”

“We will draw the border with Lebanon and resolve the issue of the disputed Shebaa Farms ... and look into the case of thousands of Lebanese in Syrian prisons.”

“The murderous [Assad] regime will perish in both our countries.”