Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon should not be a base for Syrian missiles and Syria should not be a reason to weaken Lebanon

Source: Nowlebanon, 17-10-2008

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said that the decision to establish diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria was a positive development in the interests of both countries. "Lebanon needs good relations with Syria, and Syria needs good relations with Lebanon," Qassem said, "It is in both countries' interest to reach understanding on many issues,
be they economic, political, or security related, because we are both facing one enemy: "Israel"."

During a graduation ceremony at the al-Mahdi school in Bir Hassan on Friday, Qassem said, "We should be careful not to use Lebanon as a basis for issuing missiles to Syria, and not to make Syria a reason to weaken Lebanon." He said that the natural situation would be for both countries to benefit from each other's strengths, and to protect each other in any confrontation with "Israeli", American, or international challenges.

Qassem said that the opposition's slogan in the 2009 parliamentary elections would be: "the political, social and economic vision of a capable and fair Lebanon that keeps all citizens free from foreign custody."

"We know there is intensive electoral spending to buy hearts and minds, and it will reach its highest level in Lebanon's history during the parliamentary elections," he said.

"We tell all those who sell their consciences that they are responsible for Lebanon's future," Qassem said, before adding that every voter in Lebanon was a partner in the country's future.

"We leave you to your conscience, because stopping the money is impossible due to its multiple sources," he said.

"It is true that parliament drafted a law forbidding any candidate from spending more than $150,000 in the parliamentary elections," he said, "however, all the spending, now and before, bears no relation with the candidacy or elections, as they say." Qassem asked why some politician's newfound passion for the poor had not emerged earlier.

Speaking in Beirut's Southern Suburb, Sheikh Qassem said it was Israel that posed a threat to the region, adding "those who believe they can suppress our resistance by pressuring us are mistaken.

"We must address Terje Roed-Larsen's report, which claims that the resistance jeopardizes Lebanon's regime and security," he said.

His eminence referred to Roed-Larsen's report as "incitement" and called the UN envoy "one of the last remnants of ‘Israel's' defeat", adding that "those trying to come between (Lebanon) and the resistance will lose.

"Roed-Larsen condemned Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace. Is ‘Israel' only violating (Lebanon's airspace), or is it attacking, destroying and kidnapping?" Sheikh Kassem said.

He continued to say that "'Israel', which annihilated the Palestinians in 1948 and killed (12-year-old) Muhammad al-Dura in front of the world's media outlets, is the real danger to our region.

"As long as ‘Israel' is the enemy situated along our border, we will prevent it from implementing its plans," his eminence said.