Sheik Qassem: Sectarian strife has no place in Lebanon

Source: Nowlebanon.com, 25-05-2008
Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheik Naim Qassem said that the latest problems were beyond political problems.
"What we dealt with at Doha are political problems about political matters, for there are no sectarian or religious problems either between Sunnis and Shiites, or between Muslims and Christians," Qassem said.
"Those who have tried to position themselves within a sectarian framework failed and will always fail, no matter what, because we believe that sectarian disputes have no place in Lebanon. Sectarian strife must not find its way into Lebanon, no matter what," Qassem added.
"We will always be ready to face such strife. Political disputes are legitimate within the framework of constitutions," Qassem noted.
He also added that the Islamic resistance will be always ready so that Israel will not take Lebanon by surprise.
"Why are you seeking to weaken the resistance in Lebanon? And for whose interest?" Qassem asked.
He also said that Lebanon's sovereignty is guaranteed by the might of its army and the resistance. "If Lebanon's sovereignty is not guaranteed this way, we will not obey you or accept your opinions," Qassem noted.
"We are ready to discuss out right to defense and power against ‘Israel'. But let no one think he is capable of organizing ‘weakness,' which drives Lebanon backward and makes it into a scene that the ‘Israeli' enters and leaves any time he wants," he said.
According to Qassem, the Doha Agreement uncovered the identity of those who wanted an agreement and those who were upset with the agreement.
"The mission of the next government must be focused on creating social and economic plans to rebuild Lebanon, in addition to solving all pending problems within institutions and through dialogue," Qassem added.