Hizbullah Renews "Serious Call" for Dialogue Expansion

Source: Al-Manar TV, 02-11-2008

Three days ahead of the "re-vivification" of the Lebanese national dialogue at the Baabda Presidential Palace under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman, Hizbullah reiterated its serious call to expand the dialogue roundtable in order to pave the way for all political factions to be represented in the national discussions.

In this context, Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Sunday that the Resistance party is serious in its demand to broaden participation the national dialogue, at the time the so-called "Government Coalition" forces were anticipating Wednesday's session to declare the "rejection" of the expansion call.

"We are serious in our demand to broaden participation in the national dialogue and we are not maneuvering," Sheikh Qassem highlighted, explaining that such expansion would be in the interest of the dialogue's success.

In another issue, Sheikh Qassem noted that Hizbullah had proved that the conflict in Lebanon is of a political, not sectarian, nature. "Those who said the struggle in Lebanon is sectarian were only following foreign orders," his eminence emphasized.

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General also tackled the upcoming 2009 parliamentary elections, confirming that going to the elections was a demand shared by all factions without exception. "We will participate in elections and we respect the people's choice," his eminence said, adding that "we do not respect, however, those traitors who can be bought by money."

Sheikh Qassem addressed those "traitors," calling on them to express frankly their beliefs "and we'll respect your choice, but when it depends on electoral money, then allow us to tell you that you have betrayed your country and you are not eligible to be even represented."