Anees Naqqash: Israeli Hands behind STL Indictment Clear

Hussein Assi

Anees Naqqash

• Indictment Turned to Be Tool with Political Timing;
• Tribunal’s Final Formula in Policy Statement ‘Smart;’
• March 14 Scenarios: Assailing Gov’t… Mobilizing People;
• Sanctions Need another Resolution… Based on Balances;
• Non-Cooperation Not the Same as Failing to Cooperate;
• All Options Remain Open, including Street Game.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Naqqash said the March 14 bloc didn’t find any opposition tool other than the indictment, expressing beliefs that the bloc would attack the government during the upcoming stage and accuse it of protecting the criminals, in an attempt to change the current majority.

Naqqash did not rule out the possibility that March 14 could resort to mobilization and sedition during the upcoming stage. However, he assured the Resistance had overcame more difficult stages in the July 2006 war, yet it achieved victory.

He praised the final formula related to the international tribunal in the government’s policy statement, and believed it offered a ‘smart formula’ which gives what should be given without blindly complying with the international resolutions.

INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL… POLITICAL TOOL

In his interview with Al-Manar Website, Naqqash analyzed the timing of the indictment. “This proved that the party concerned with the tribunal deals with STL indictment as a political tool to affect the political scene in one sense or another,” he said.
Al-AMAN Coordinator emphasized the indictment was almost ready when former PM Saad Hariri was still presiding over the Lebanese cabinet, but noted they (new opposition and its allies) only resorted to it recently, after Hariri’s government collapsed and the new government was to finalize its policy statement.
“Hence, the indictment was released to pressure the government and embarrass the Lebanese scene,” he added.

Detliv Mehlis

Naqqash also noted the indictment’s local and international sponsors were hoping it could affect both the Syrian and Lebanese scenes.
According to this analysis, Naqqash spoke of an indirect interference to increase tension in the region through the indictment.
Answering a question on whether he was hinting there were Israeli hands behind the indictment, Naqqash noted the Israelis were the first to publish the so-called suspects’ names, in addition to the indictment’s full details.

“This is another proof that the Israelis - at least - took part in the indictment-making process,” he pointed out.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HARMONY CLEAR

Naqqash said that the internal and external harmony in relation to the indictment was clear. He explained that March 14 would assail the government in the upcoming phase and accuse it of protecting Hariri’s assassination “perpetrators” and obstructing the international justice process.
While recalling that policy of March 14, as well as that of former PM Fouad Saniora, were based upon internationalizing the Lebanese cause, Naqqash noted that this bloc was calling for the full implementation of international resolutions unconditionally. He warned that what was plotted for Lebanon in this regard presented another form of mandate.

BETWEEN NON-COOPERATION AND FAILURE TO COOPERATE

Answering a question on whether there was any specific plan to internationalize the Lebanese cause in case the Lebanon did not comply with the international arrest warrants, Naqqash stressed that the intention to impose sanctions against the country needs a new international resolution to be implemented.

“Such resolution cannot be guaranteed for any side and it depends on the balance of powers within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),” he said.

Commenting on reports about the Lebanese government’s ability to break international commitments, Naqqash stressed the need to distinguish between non-cooperation and failure to cooperate.

“Non-cooperation with the tribunal differs from the government’s failure to cooperate,” he went on to say, adding “the government won’t say it doesn’t want to cooperate with the tribunal but that it is not able to cooperate.”

ALL OPTIONS OPEN…

Al-AMAN Coordinator admitted, meanwhile, the possibility of the situation collapse on ground remains available.
He emphasized, however, that experience has proved the futility of betting on international powers to confront the Resistance.
“The whole world conspired against the Resistance in July 2006. They urged it to free the two Zionist detained soldiers. However, the balance of powers did not allow them to achieve their goals. The same scenario is repeating itself today in one sense or another. Yet, again, no one will be able to change the balances,” Naqqash stressed.
Yet, he said that all options remain open, but March 14 should perceive that the other bloc also has its own popularity, and that it should be ready anytime. “All things would be evaluated at the appropriate time,” he said.

SMART FORMULA…

Naqqash hailed as a ‘smart formula’ the final draft adopted by the cabinet in relation to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

"The government confirms that it greatly respects international resolutions, seeks for achieving justice, and follows the STL progress, which had been established in principle for truth and justice away from politicization or retaliation, as long as it (STL) does not negatively affect Lebanon's stability and civil peace," the statement read.

Naqqash said the government gave, through this formula, what should be given without blindly complying with the resolutions.

He praised as well the addition made by the government when it granted priority to the country’s stability and civil peace.

Arabic version

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