Franjieh: My visit to Iran proves Lebanon support for Iran
Lebanon-Iran, Politics, 4/23/2007

The visiting Lebanon's former interior minister Suleiman Franjieh said that his visit to Iran under such difficult conditions aimed to prove to the world that his country is standing next to Iran.

He made the statement at a press conference after meeting Iran's Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani today.

"Iran has never supported any Lebanese group. Nor has it ever opposed any group in this country. Rather national understanding in Lebanon is of great significance to Iranian officials. Given that the will of Lebanese opposition groups are justified and their call for agreed democracy -- rather than democracy based on population -- as representatives of the majority of people, Lebanon's allies will support this type of democracy," adding that Iran will be the first one to approve it.

In response to a question about the future presidential elections in Lebanon, he said, "As the opposition group, we support the opposition leader, General Michel Aoun, as a presidential candidate. However we are aware that the political situation currently dominating Lebanon will be analyzed based on the existence of understanding." He noted that the names of presidential candidates have not yet been declared.

Meanwhile, he welcomed the court hearing on assassination of the former prime minister Rafic al-Hariri and said, "To clarify who assassinated Hariri, we agree with a court hearing. But we do not approve the approach of the court." Concerning the cause for his opposition to the approach of the court to the issue, he said that the trial is being staged without the agreement of Lebanese people and that they are even reluctant to discuss it.

"Every Lebanese citizen believing in the independence and sovereignty of his country is willing to recognize Rafic Hariri's assassins. However, some individuals have a different approach to the issue and mainly have political aims," he concluded.

Larijani said after meeting Franjieh that Franjieh is one of the country's prominent political figures and expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his talks with him about developments in Lebanon and the region.

Referring to Franjieh as a member of the Lebanese government's opposition group attempting to end the current state of chaos, the Larijani hoped for balance in the conditions dominating Lebanon to overcome the problems facing it through understanding.

"Besides, in today's meeting, various solutions to Lebanon's problems through democratic means and the support Iran can provide in this respect were discussed," he added.

Meantime, Iran's Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel said today in his meeting with Franjieh that Iran has no intention of interfering in Lebanon internal affairs and seeks a united, cohesive and stable Lebanon.

Iran fully supports the resistance, unity and solidarity of Lebanese people against the atrocities of Israel, he said. It is crucial to take into account all existing views in administering the country, he said adding that Lebanon is now paying dearly for its high-profiled morales. Given the 33 days of brave resistance of the Lebanese people against the atrocities of Israel, he said when the Lebanese nation were proving their merits in their fight against the Israelis, some tried to turn over the destiny of the Lebanese people to the aliens.

The former Lebanese interior minister, for his part, briefed the Iranian Majlis speaker on the latest developments in Lebanon. He called Iran a significant country in the region with positive impacts on regional developments.

Lauding the support extended by Iran to the resistance, unity and independence of Lebanese nation, he said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran fully supports the country's independence, unity, struggle and resistance as part of our legitimate rights."

Meantime, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Mostafavi said Saturday that Tehran is ready to share expertise with Beirut during Lebanon's reconstruction era.

Mostafavi told Franjieh that Tehran strongly supports Lebanon. He added that victory of brave Lebanese children over the Israelis is a "big victory."

Franjieh, for his part, stressed unity among Lebanese groups and parties in the face of Israel, which is "the main enemy" of Lebanon.
He said Israel and its mercenaries want to divide followers of different Islamic schools of thought in Lebanon so as to foment tension in the country again.

Previous Stories:
  Abul-Gheit urges foreign parties hands off Lebanon   (4/16/2007)
  Granting opposition veto power amounts to political suicide   (4/2/2007)
  Salim al-Hoss visit to Iran after; no specific plan on Lebanon   (2/26/2007)
  Iran urges solution to Lebanese crisis   (1/27/2007)
  Iran not playing chess with US in Lebanon: Larijani   (1/20/2007)

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