Mikati: Hizbullah Innocent, Rai Confirms Statements, Jumblatt: Hizbullah To Defend Itself
Their scandals have exceeded all limits.
The pages of their political involvement devoted volumes to realities that the
But with the decline in their attitudes and their campaign against the spiritual and political dignitaries, the House Speaker found a necessity to uncover some of the hidden.
Some predicted, others were angry, and some were keener on their Western relationships than the scattered body parts of July children martyrs.
Here, was the beginning and not the end.
Geagea's Prophecy, Siniora's Wrath, Pederson's Warning
Mariam Ali
resistance's people are familiar with.
In the first episode, within the preparation to engage the course of 2006 July aggression against Lebanon, House Speaker Aide MP Ali Hassan Khalil lists to "as-Safir" Lebanese newspaper the proceedings of the meeting held between Berri and the Secretary General of Hizbullah his Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in "Ain al-Tineh" April- 28 -2000 ahead of the "Israeli" withdrawal.
The two leaders' expectations intersected on the nearness of the "Israeli" withdrawal, and the fear that some Arabs, Muslims, and Lebanese won't handle this victory.
Khalil displays some of what happened in one of the "dialogue" sessions of March "14" 2006, stopping at the "Lebanese" forces Chief Executive Samir Geagea's prophecy, who expected the nearby "Israeli" war , Sayyed Nasrallah's commitment to the "prisoner's" and the rest of the occupied territories liberation, and MP Saad Hariri's remarkable note that "the Syrians were not pleased with the "Israeli" withdrawal in 2000," describing the "Shebaa Farms" as an "invention".
Khalil lists the details of his meeting with the Prime Minister, at that time, Fouad Siniora after the capture of two "Israeli" soldiers, and how the latter was tense and agitated, claiming that Sayyed Nasrallah "tricked" him.
Khalil also states the facts of Berri's meeting with the representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations at that time, Geir Pedersen, who argued that "Hizbullah must surrender its weapons immediately."
Pedersen warned that unless the "Israeli" soldiers were released, he would unleash "Israel" to act as it wants," noting that he "had contacted Lebanese leadership, including "Change and Reform" bloc leader General Michel Aoun warning him of standing by Hizbullah."
According to Khalil, Geagea stated in the dialogue session that he doesn't think we have a military balance with "Israel"," claiming that "the solution is in reaching a new ceasefire Convention supported by an intense presence of 15 thousand international troops for 25 or 50 otherwise we will remain in the case of open war with "Israel" and the West."
"The situation is boiling, and with the presence of international forces we have to keep the bear away from our field because the war is coming," Geagea added as he got Hariri's approval on his proposal by saying "I understand this offer."
And about the political course of July 12, 2006, Khalil informs "as-Safir" about what happened between Siniora and him at that day:
Siniora seemed so tense and nervous.
The papers scattered in his hands before falling down.
"Lebanon can't handle what is happening, we aren't informed of the circumstances, and therefore will not bear the responsibility," Siniora commented.
"I will be clear, we are not aware of what happened (the capture of two "Israeli" soldiers) and therefore we are not responsible, what happened is serious, and we gave "Israel" excuses, I ask that the "Israeli" soldiers be delivered to the state, otherwise, things will take a serious dimension, the country will be destroyed, Hizbullah is responsible, and everyone must put pressure," former MP stressed.
"I informed Sayyed Nasrallah's political assistant Hussein Khalil that Hizbullah must announce that they will place the "Israeli" soldiers in my custody so I can resolve the problem politically and diplomatically," Siniora claimed.
Rai Asserts Statements
At another Lebanese level, following his return to Beirut, Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai is attached to his statements and refuses to recant them under political and media pressure, which was exerted on him.
Rai merely offered some clarifications and explanations revealing that he told the French president: "Are we bound to always have "Israel" pestering us and the Palestinians in our country? You throw us into the fire and then you tell us we are burning?"
"An-Nahar" daily has learned that President Michel Suleiman will meet with Rai this Thursday in Dimane on the sidelines of their participation in the annual celebration organized in the Garden of Patriarchs.
PM Najib Mikati is also set to meet with Patriarch Rai this Friday.
Mikati: Hizbullah Innocent
Meanwhile, PM Mikati called for keeping the Special Tribunal for Lebanon away from controversy and asserted that the implementation of all international resolutions is not an option since respecting laws is in favor of Lebanon's safety whereas failure to respect them is harmful to Lebanon.
Mikati expressed being "convinced of Hizbullah's innocence" and hoped that "Hizbullah would assign lawyers to defend members who were named in the first round of indictments issued by the Netherlands-based STL."
Stressing that Lebanon will not interfere in the internal affairs of Syria; PM added "we wish for the Syrian people what they wish for themselves."
"Our decision is very clear: we will not take any decisions against Syria," Mikati said
Jumblatt: Hizbullah To Defend Itself, STL Needs Years
In another context, "National Struggle Front Leader" MP Walid Jumblatt described his position on the electricity project as "technical and administrative, and not political."
In an interview with "as-Safir", Jumblatt said that "government should focus its attention to all sectors, whether on the appointments issue or anything related to the economy, people's livelihood, salaries and taxes policy."
Noting that "PM Mikati is running the government properly," Jumblatt confirmed that "he opposes the electoral law not because he will lose the elections if it were adopted, but because he doesn't understand it."
Concerning "Future" movement campaign against House Speaker Nabih Berri, Jumblatt commented: "I've read about it in the newspapers and I don't want to get involved, but if I were Berri, I wouldn't have responded."
"Hizbullah can defend itself with all the possible ways... The STL issue will not end today or tomorrow it might take many years," "as-Safir" quoted him as saying.
On the Syrian developments, the MP called "the Syrian regime to implement reforms to face the popular uprising," noting that "the situation in Syria is complicated."
For his part, Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said on Monday that "he will present a comprehensive proposal on the parliamentary elections electoral law, which was prepared by the Interior Ministry, during a meeting with the committee tasked with drafting the law."
"The committee is formed of party representatives and all the political movements," Charbel told "al-Joumhouria" daily.
"Monday's meeting will pave the way for other meetings that will on Tuesday include civil associations' representatives and women associations," the minister clarified.
Emphasizing that "the security situation is under control," he concluded that "the security measures are being implemented properly."
Source: Lebanese newspapers, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org team
