Hariri and the US support to Lebanon
US Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman said both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, as well as the White House, support Lebanon's freedom and sovereignty. After talks with head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri, Feltman said he met officials in Washington, following last week's Congressional elections which led to a change in Congress's majority, and that they expressed strong backing for Lebanon.
Speaking to reporters in Koreitem, the US Ambassador strongly rejected the idea of turning Lebanon into a conflict zone for outside forces, and said the Lebanese have witnessed violence and many wars and should be left alone to resolve their problems. Feltman stressed that while he does not downplay the significance of issues under discussion in the country, the Lebanese are capable of overcoming those difficulties peacefully and constitutionally, and reiterated Washington's backing for the Lebanese and the government. He made clear that US backing is solid and not up for bargaining, in response to a question about concerns over reports that "the Lebanese could pay the price of an under the table deal."
On the 14th of this month, Hariri rejected the threat of street protests to topple Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s government and described as a mistake the resignation of ministers representing the Amal Movement and Hizbullah from the government just before the approval of a UN proposal to create a special court to try the suspects in Prime Minister Rafic Hariri’s assassination.
Hariri vowed to remain steadfast in the face of prevailing challenges, and made clear that the Lebanese should again govern themselves. He also paid tribute to the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, highlighting his Arab and national stances, which the Amal Movement and Hizbullah had praised. He said toppling a government, as some now threaten to do, is not a simple matter.
In the interview with Al-Arabiyah, Hariri said he was not concerned about any US-Syrian-Iranian deal over Lebanon, as some suggest, pointing out that the Lebanese people are Arabs who reject custodianship. He also denied reports that the majority in Parliament favors a deployment of multi-national forces across the entire country. He said UN troops who are currently stationed in the South were sent to the region with the government’s unanimous approval.
Regarding the international tribunal, Hariri said it will also probe those who assassinated all other martyrs. He cited President Lahoud’s criticism of the court after the UN made its final proposal to set up the tribunal. Hariri added, the head of state knows who killed Gebran Tueini, Samir Qassir and George Hawi, and therefore he opposes the court’s creation.
Hariri reiterated calls for dialogue and said when the Syrian military withdrew from Lebanon he urged dialogue with Amal and Hizbullah, and the national conference was launched, where political leaders originally accepted the international tribunal, and also agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Syria, and tackle Palestinian arms outside refugee camps and draw the borders with Syria.
In response to a question about the possibility of protests to topple the government, head of the Future Bloc said the March 14 forces are the majority and their supporters will also take to the streets if others do. Asked about his reaction “if they” carry out bombings, MP Hariri said opposition forces are not behind a string of killings, adding the Lebanese and the international community reject such violence. He also told Al-Arabiyah when calls mounted for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 to disarm Hizbullah, he was supportive of dialogue, and stressed that Hizbullah arms are a Lebanese matter and that the Shabaa Farms issue should be resolved. MP Hariri opposed any armament among the Lebanese.
Asked if contacts are underway to meet Hizbullah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, MP Hariri said no, but added he would not mind such a meeting.
Meantime today, the Lebanese Daily Star reported that "Speaker Nabih Berri has voiced opposition to street demonstrations to topple the government, according to an Al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya official who met with him on Friday, as Lebanese politicians continued to navigate the political crisis gripping the country. Assad Harmoush said that Berri had "refused to go down on the street" in an attempt to force the creation of a national unity government."