Hariri calls Lebanese unity, condemns al-Assad
Lebanon-Syria, Politics, 8/18/2006

The Head of the Future bloc in the Lebanese parliament MP Saad Hariri rejected what he termed as threats and incitement at civil conflict in Lebanon by Syrian President Bashar Assad and urged the Lebanese to rally behind the state and its legitimate institutions.

In a speech in Koreitem, Hariri stressed that Lebanon is facing threats on its southern and northern borders, and that the Lebanese have no option but to bolster national unity, reject renewed custodianship and confront Israeli aggressions by rebuilding the country.

Speaking to a large crowd of Future Movement members in Koreitem, head of the Future bloc said verbal attacks by the Syrian leader against Arab regimes were surprising, and harmed the position of the Syrian presidency and the country in general. He questioned the Syrian regime's policy of not resisting Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights, and made clear that Lebanon will not descend into anarchy and will not allow Israel to sow internal discord. He also stressed that the authority of the state in Lebanon should become paramount and supersede any other role, because it also embodies the dignity of the Lebanese.

Addressing the "very very dangerous" consequences of Israel's latest aggression, head of the Future bloc said the Lebanese today are at decisive crossroads, and should not allow the state to remain the "weaker" party in the national structure. He pointed out that the Lebanese Army, in deploying in South Lebanon, is carrying out a historic political, security and military mission, alongside friendly nations whose forces are serving with UN troops in the region, to end Israeli aggressions and breaches of Lebanese sovereignty. He stressed that the international community faces the difficult task of protecting Lebanese borders, and the Lebanese too are expected to cement their steadfastness and back the state. Hariri described the situation that followed the war as catastrophic and urged the Lebanese to renew confidence in their state and to reject the irresponsible "policies that come from abroad."

Head of the Future bloc paid tribute to assassinated Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and his legacy of defending national unity. He said the Lebanese will not yield to Israeli attacks, citing Israel's recurrent destructive military campaigns against Lebanon and its goal of weakening and dividing the state. Hariri made clear that the Lebanese should not be manipulated by regional rivals, and stressed that Israel is an enemy that caused Lebanon harm, but it was painful that a "brother" had also caused harm to the country, adding 33 days after Israel began shelling Lebanon, "shelling" from Damascus by the country's leader targeted some elected Lebanese officials, Arab regimes that had supported late Syrian President Hafez Assad and provoked discord inside Lebanon. Addressing the Syrian people, head of the Future bloc made clear that he did not want to interfere in their internal affairs, however he said that the people have been oppressed and not allowed to express themselves, and that the occupied Golan Heights have been ignored. He said while the regime had spite for Lebanon, the Syrian people loved the Lebanese and supported them. Hariri added, the Syrian regime has been ruling the country through terrorist means, and was inciting the Lebanese against officials who had resisted Israeli attempts in the 1980s to impose the so-called May 17 Accord.

In his speech, head of the Future bloc emphasized that the Lebanese remained steadfast and emerged victorious because of their homegrown will, and that the March 14 factions are the "fathers" of national unity and are loyal to Arab causes. Hariri also stressed that assassinated Prime Minister Hariri was loved by the Syrians and Lebanese alike, and that those who masterminded his killing are worried about the findings of an international tribunal, and are now warning the Lebanese of internal conflict.

He said the President of a "neighboring" country threatened to tumble the current political status quo in Lebanon, because he has yet to "digest" the decision of the Lebanese to get rid of the corrupt and police state regime that ruled them.

Previous Stories:
  Rice said Hizbullah needs to disarm or face international pressure   (8/16/2006)
  Assad: Recent war confirms correctness of Syria's approach to Lebanon's resistance   (8/16/2006)
  Lebanon: UN emergency aid distributed in Tyre, fuel supplied to hospitals   (8/16/2006)
  Lebanon orders army to move south   (8/16/2006)
  Syrian PM: Damascus supports Lebanese government, nation   (8/3/2006)
  Hariri: National dialogue only path forward   (7/8/2006)
  Khaddam says al-Assad must have ordered Hariri murder   (6/13/2006)

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