Sheikh Qassem: Revoking Decisions Entrance to Solution

Source: Agencies, 15-5-2008
Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said that revoking the two black decisions by the unconstitutional government of Fouad Saniora was the natural entrance to political settlement.
Speaking after meeting the Arab delegation visiting Lebanon since Wednesday, Sheikh Qassem reiterated that "if anyone believes he can benefit from international interference in imposing his conditions, he is wrong. We recognize the other party, and it must recognize us. We represent a large sector of the population, and the other party is also represented."
"We want to work hand in hand in order to build Lebanon," his eminence stressed. "We want to return to settlement based on the no-winner-no-looser principle, where no one monopolizes decisions. We want cooperation in directing the country," his eminence told journalists.
"Beirut does not belong to a single faction, and we call for dropping the language of conflict in this phase, because we must act together. Let the people be the arbiter. This is a new phase to be governed by dialogue and agreement so that we may reach a solution. If the other party is willing to reach an acceptable settlement, Hizbullah and the opposition are also ready."
Sheikh Qassem stressed the Arab League would sponsor inter-Lebanese dialogue "that should be over the two remaining points of the Arab initiative: A national unity government and the electoral law."
He reminded that the issue of the president is settled for as Army Commander General Michel Suleiman is still a consensus candidate.
"The incidents occurred because of the government wrongly targeting the resistance, which should never happen again. They were a reaction to the government's decisions. The resistance's weapons are targeting Israel. It is not planning any internal military activity," his eminence said.
"We are back to doing politics openly, without preconditions," Qassem said after the meeting.
"We pray that God is merciful with the martyrs and that He heals the wounded. We salute the Lebanese army for its performance and for being an institution that guarantees civil peace."
Qassem noted that Hizbullah wants to return to a settlement based on the no-winner-no-loser principle, where no one holds a monopoly over government decisions.
"We want cooperation in guiding the course of the country," Qassem said.
He also noted that neither the United States' nor any other international party's interference will serve Lebanon. "We support inter-Lebanese cooperation on a solution," he said.
Qassem said Hizbullah "will wait for the Arab Ministerial Committee to announce a result that will satisfy both sides. We will not accept discussing anything other than the matters that were on the table before the latest incidents."