Lebanese Bid Areslan Aide Farewell, Call for Unity
Source: Al-Manar TV, 12-9-2008
Amid deep sorrow and fury, the Lebanese town of Baisour, in the Aley area, bid farewell the member of the Lebanese Democratic Party Saleh Aridi who was considered to be the right-hand man to Druze opposition leader Talal Areslan. He was killed instantly when a bomb ripped through his Mercedes car in Baisour's square late Wednesday.
While the crime was believed to be an attempt to create sedition amid an atmosphere of reconciliation and openness and in the wake of an improved security situation in the country, all speeches delivered during the funeral stressed the necessity of proceeding with reconciliation and unity to prevent the criminals of achieving their goals.
It's also for the purpose of preserving unity that Areslan asked the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt to address the crowds. Jumblatt said that the message has been received, stressing that this loss could only be compensated through reconciliation and return to state institutions. "This crime proved that Lebanon is an open arena for all kinds of intelligence, regional and international, and all kinds of projects," he said.
"Only the State protects all Lebanese," Jumblatt emphasized, insisting on the importance of the progressive assimilation of Hizbullah capacities in the State. "I salute the delegations of Hizbullah and the Amal Movement who shared our pain," he said, expressing hope that a new page will be turned and relations will be normalized.
For his part, Areslan vowed to carry on "what we started in May in cooperation with (Hizbullah Secretary General) Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Jumblatt." The role of Mount Lebanon is to protect the resistance, he said.
"They want Mount Lebanon to be divided and be full of sectarianism and political disputes," Areslan said. He pledged that "Mount Lebanon will follow the path of reconciliation and unity," adding that "Mount Lebanon is protected through its unity, the protection of the Resistance, and holding on to its Arab identity."
For his part, Works Minister Ghazi Aridi said that "the martyr fell in defense of the mountain's unity," adding that Baisour is committed to reconciliation launched by Areslan and Jumblatt. He called for referring the crime to the judiciary council so that justice would be served.
Meanwhile, Lebanese and International leaders were still condemning the crime, calling for calm. President Michel Suleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, Future Movement MP Saad Hariri condemned the crime and called for unity. Hizbullah also condemned the murder and said that some parties had no interest in national reconciliation, and only wanted to undermine stability and serve the interests of "Israel".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the car bombing and urged rival parties to show restraint. "This violence only underscores how important it is for dialogue and reconciliation to move forward," the UN chief told a news conference.
Iran blamed the Zionist entity for the attack and called for safeguarding Lebanon's national unity. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Kashkavi said the crime also targets "the Lebanese people's unity and accomplishments of the victorious resistance."
Egypt condemned the assassination of Aridi, "which targeted the efforts of reaching national reconciliation and positive atmospheres." In a statement, Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu Al-Gheit said that the crime aimed to destabilize the situation in Lebanon and increase divisions among the people.
Syria, EU, Italy and Washington have earlier condemned the crime and called on the Lebanese to consolidate their unity.
Amid deep sorrow and fury, the Lebanese town of Baisour, in the Aley area, bid farewell the member of the Lebanese Democratic Party Saleh Aridi who was considered to be the right-hand man to Druze opposition leader Talal Areslan. He was killed instantly when a bomb ripped through his Mercedes car in Baisour's square late Wednesday.
While the crime was believed to be an attempt to create sedition amid an atmosphere of reconciliation and openness and in the wake of an improved security situation in the country, all speeches delivered during the funeral stressed the necessity of proceeding with reconciliation and unity to prevent the criminals of achieving their goals.
It's also for the purpose of preserving unity that Areslan asked the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt to address the crowds. Jumblatt said that the message has been received, stressing that this loss could only be compensated through reconciliation and return to state institutions. "This crime proved that Lebanon is an open arena for all kinds of intelligence, regional and international, and all kinds of projects," he said.
"Only the State protects all Lebanese," Jumblatt emphasized, insisting on the importance of the progressive assimilation of Hizbullah capacities in the State. "I salute the delegations of Hizbullah and the Amal Movement who shared our pain," he said, expressing hope that a new page will be turned and relations will be normalized.
For his part, Areslan vowed to carry on "what we started in May in cooperation with (Hizbullah Secretary General) Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Jumblatt." The role of Mount Lebanon is to protect the resistance, he said.
"They want Mount Lebanon to be divided and be full of sectarianism and political disputes," Areslan said. He pledged that "Mount Lebanon will follow the path of reconciliation and unity," adding that "Mount Lebanon is protected through its unity, the protection of the Resistance, and holding on to its Arab identity."
For his part, Works Minister Ghazi Aridi said that "the martyr fell in defense of the mountain's unity," adding that Baisour is committed to reconciliation launched by Areslan and Jumblatt. He called for referring the crime to the judiciary council so that justice would be served.
Meanwhile, Lebanese and International leaders were still condemning the crime, calling for calm. President Michel Suleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, Future Movement MP Saad Hariri condemned the crime and called for unity. Hizbullah also condemned the murder and said that some parties had no interest in national reconciliation, and only wanted to undermine stability and serve the interests of "Israel".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the car bombing and urged rival parties to show restraint. "This violence only underscores how important it is for dialogue and reconciliation to move forward," the UN chief told a news conference.
Iran blamed the Zionist entity for the attack and called for safeguarding Lebanon's national unity. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Kashkavi said the crime also targets "the Lebanese people's unity and accomplishments of the victorious resistance."
Egypt condemned the assassination of Aridi, "which targeted the efforts of reaching national reconciliation and positive atmospheres." In a statement, Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu Al-Gheit said that the crime aimed to destabilize the situation in Lebanon and increase divisions among the people.
Syria, EU, Italy and Washington have earlier condemned the crime and called on the Lebanese to consolidate their unity.
