Nabih Berri statement on commemoration of July 2006 war

Source: nowlebanon.com, 13-07-2009

On July 12, the Lebanese National News Agency carried the following report:
On the commemoration of the July 2006 war, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri issued the following statement: "Three years ago, on this same day on July 12, 2006, "Israel" waged the most violent, aggressive, destructive, organized and pre-planned war on our country and targeted our vital facilities, infrastructure, air and water ports, communications networks and power and water structures. During this crazy "Israeli" war, "Israel" turned residential areas into targets for live ammunition shootings and for lethal and internationally prohibited arms. Its air force and land and maritime shooting systems thus intentionally perpetrated widespread massacres which claimed the lives of hundreds of people and injured countless others among women and children. Despite this violence and monstrosity which characterized this "Israeli" war on Lebanon, the war ended with the defeat of the "Israeli" army and its strategic failure to achieve any of the goals that its government which was doomed to collapse had set. On this occasion, we would like to salute, with the greatest respect and honor, the courageous martyrs of the Lebanese army and the resistance who registered major accomplishments which marked a glorious history for our people. We would like to salute as well, the civilian martyrs who fell during the aggression. On this occasion we would also like to point to the following:
Firstly, Lebanon's strength resided in the cohesion of all the elements of its domestic front and political national unity. This was seen when everyone rose above the secondary disputes to confront the main enemy represented by "Israel" and stand behind the legendary steadfastness shown by our people, resistance and army throughout 33 days.
Secondly, it is unfortunate that as we are commemorating this war, the international community is still showing nepotism toward "Israel" and still considering it to be an exception for which the international resolutions, namely resolution 1701, are not applicable. Indeed, "Israel" and until this day has not yet announced its acceptance of the ceasefire and is still occupying dear parts of our land, at the head of which are the Shebaa Farms and the Kfar Shouba Hills, while continuing its violation of our airspace and territorial waters. This necessitates the renewal of the international commitment toward the implementation of the decisions of international legitimacy.
Thirdly, what is more painful on this occasion is that the dossier of the compensations which emerged following the last war and the previous "Israeli" wars on our country, is still open to the promises of the [Lebanese] government. This dossier includes compensations for the houses, businesses, clinics and agricultural properties that were destroyed and is entailing the continuation of the displacement of thousands of families. It requires the release of the Arab compensation funds and the exertion of all possible efforts to secure the necessary money and credits to close the dossier of the cluster bombs.
We therefore hope that the coming government will set its priorities and start with these dossiers and that of the Litani project. On this occasion, we would also like to continue warning against the ongoing "Israeli" war on Lebanon via different means, namely through the intelligence war, part of the cells and chapters of which were recently uncovered. This calls for utter national alertness and for corroborating the fact that the resistance represented and still represents a Lebanese necessity, for as long as the "Israeli" occupation and threats to resort to power are ongoing. We thus assure that Lebanon's peace, unity and stability are the best weapons in the war against "Israel".