Fneish deems Rice΄s statements a testimony to resistance, but confirms enmity with US

Source: Nowlebanon.com, 17-6-2008

Minister Mohammad Fneish said that Lebanon's battle with the ""Israeli" enemy" required "ultimate preparations, because the nature of this enemy has not changed."
 
"We have not solved our problem with ["Israel"]. There are still parts of our land under "Israeli" occupation in the Shibaa Farms and the Kafr Shouba hills. There are still aggressions on our rights to water, and "Israel" threatens this country every day," he added, "despite talk on how to find a solution to the issue of the Shibaa Farms."

The resistance and its arms were thus justified and necessary, Fneish said.
Fneish said the resistance should take credit for the international attention to the Shibaa Farms and their recognition as Lebanese. "What concerns us is our sovereignty over our land," he continued.
"If diplomatic efforts are not successful, the resistance will continue to perform its duty. When the land is liberated, a defense strategy that draws on the resistance's experience will be formed, whether [US Secretary of State Condoleezza] Rice likes it or not," Fneish stated.

Fneish said Rice's statements during a surprise visit to Lebanon on Monday were a testimony to the above. "We do not mean that the US administration recognizes our right to resist, because we consider the American administration a partner of the "Israeli" enemy and hence bears the greatest responsibility for the destruction and devastation in Lebanon," Fneish said.

Fneish called for the complete implementation of the Doha agreement as an integrated whole. "Having accomplished the presidential elections, we must accelerate the formation of a government of national unity, leading to the adoption of an electoral law."