Minister Arslan declares Aridi a martyr of Resistance and of Mount-Lebanon΄s unity

Source: Nowlebanon.com, 11-9-2008
Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan said that his party would maintains its relations with Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and PSP Leader MP Walid Jumblatt.
Speaking in the wake of the Wednesday night assassination of fellow party member Sheikh Saleh Aridi, Arslan said on Thursday that his supporters would avoid any violence in Mount Lebanon, and would continue the reconciliation process "we started last May."
Arslan at one point addressed the late Aridi directly, saying, "you used to alert me of two things: not to risk relations with Syria, and to preserve relations with Hezbollah and I declare you to have become a martyr of the Resistance and of Mount Lebanon's unity."
"Your assassination and martyrdom have proved to me that my position was correct," he said.
Arslan also said that he had heard Jumblatt's statement that he would rather meet Arslan on Thursday or Friday than talk to the media, which, Arslan said was "the best expression of the delicacy of this period."
While there are many political disagreements in Lebanon, they will not lead to war, Arslan said, adding that those who killed Aridi were trying to trigger a conflict, "but we will not fall into the trap."
Arslan said that the investigation into the assassination should be transferred to the legal system during the coming cabinet meeting.