Fadlallah calls for deep Arab, Islamic dialogue

Source: Daily Star, 23-05-2008
BEIRUT: Senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said Thursday that the current period requires Arab and Islamic efforts to settle the remaining problems and complications, and praised Iran's contribution toward reach agreement among Lebanese leaders in Qatar.
In a phone conversation with Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani, Fadlallah stressed the need for Arab and Islamic countries to communicate and hold "deep" dialogue over Arab and Islamic issues.
According to Fadlallah, discussions should tackle the issue of the Palestinian cause and ways to protect the Palestinians against continuous 'Israeli' massacres, in addition to the suffering of the Iraqi people, which he said, "was caused by the American occupation of Iraq."
"The current political period requires joint Arab and Islamic efforts to resolve lots of problems witnessed by Arab and Islamic countries," he said. "By doing so, we might get out of the framework of divisions, as well as that of sectarian and political fanaticism which threatens the nation on more than one level."
Shibani informed Fadlallah of the role played by Iran to bring the Lebanese viewpoints together, as well as its coordination with several Arab and Islamic countries in facilitating the achievement of an agreement through the Qatar-sponsored dialogue.
Under Arab League auspices, rival Lebanese leaders clinched a deal on Wednesday to end the political feud that exploded into deadly clashes earlier this month and nearly drove the country into a new civil war.
The agreement, announced after days of tense talks in Doha, will see the election of a president for Lebanon on Sunday and the creation of a unity government in which the opposition will have a power of veto.