National Dialogue: PM Mikati: Hizbullah Weapons Sacred - Jemayyel Praises Dialogue, Expresses Will to Meet Hizbullah SG,

PM Mikati: Hizbullah Weapons, Sacred for Confronting “Israeli” Enemy

Local Editor Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, stated that the most important issue in the dialogue is the policy of self-distancing Lebanon and placing it in a neutral position, away from the regional political fronts, in order to protect its interests. PM Mikati referred to the statement issued after the first dialogue session, during which the convened parties stressed to adhere to the Taef accord, and control the situation on the Lebanese-Syrian borders. In an interview with al-Mayadeen TV, PM Mikati asserted that Hizbullah's arms were the product of the "Israeli" occupation of Lebanon. He indicated that the arms proved their use and advantage, and so did the Lebanese territories that were liberated only via Hizbullah's efforts. "Hizbullah's weapons are sacred for me when it comes to confronting the "Israeli" enemy, while it is a matter of worry for some Lebanese," PM Mikati went on to say. "We assure the Lebanese people that it [Hizbullah's weapons] won't be [posed] against them," Lebanese PM said. Regarding disarming the Palestinians, PM Mikati noted that after efforts of two successive cabinets in Lebanon, the disarmament of Palestinians still hasn't been implemented, and further referred to the high cooperation displayed by the Palestinian leadership in this regard. Moreover, Mikati highlighted one of his concerns to acquire humanitarian rights for the Palestinians, as they should be entitled to graceful living inside refugee camps. Source: News Agencies, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org

First National Dialogue Session Closed, June 25 Set for the Next

Local Editor

The Lebanese national dialogue resumed its sessions Monday in response to the President Michel Sleiman’s invitation. After the first session, Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun stated the “talks were positive,” with gatherers agreeing on committing to international resolutions and controlling Lebanon’s border. The concluding statement said: “We reject the formation of a buffer zone with Syria and the use of Lebanon as an open ground for smuggling arms to Syria.” Furthermore, it highlighted the need to keep Lebanon away from regional and international disputes, “in order to maintain its national unity and civil peace.” On local developments, the statement urged citizens against resorting to arms to end disputes, instead calling on them to turn to legal and state institutions. Only sixteen leaders attended the session after Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said the LF will boycott the dialogue for being useless. Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-Premier Saad Hariri was also absent for being abroad. Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi did not attend for health reasons. For his part, former premier Fouad Siniora, representing Al-Mustaqbal party, said after the meeting that “the dialogue session today was a step.” Another major absentee is veteran journalist Ghassan Tueni who died on Friday. Tueni, who had dubbed the all-party talks the national dialogue committee, represented the Greek Orthodox sect in former sessions. The gatherers renewed their “trust in Lebanon as the center for mutual coexistence, stressing the need to commit to the principles that were stipulated in the constitution that will serve as the foundations for the country.” They also voiced their commitment to the Taef accord “with any suggestion to develop or modify any of its articles be taken through consensus and in accordance with constitutional mechanisms.” In light of the recent unrest in Lebanon, the gatherers called on “citizens to be aware that resorting to violence and weapons will inevitably lead to losses to all concerned sides and affect generations to come.” They stressed the need to establish stability in Lebanon “in order to avert strife.” An agreement was reached to resort to dialogue and calm political and media rhetoric in order to ease the tensions in Lebanon “in a manner that would achieve national unity and fortify Lebanon against external dangers, especially Israel.” “This will positively affect the public opinion and economic, tourist, and social sectors,” continued the final statement. Moreover, the gatherers agreed on bolstering state institutions “and the mentality of turning to the law and legitimate institutions to resolve any dispute.” They stressed the need to support the army “on the moral and financial levels seeing as it is the main factor in maintaining peace and national unity.” “The national dialogue concluding statement will serve as a declaration that all sides will commit to and a copy of it will be handed to the Arab League and United Nations,” said the statement. The last dialogue session was held 19 months ago and the next session will be held on June 25 at the Baabda Palace. At the start of Monday’s national dialogue session, President Michel Sleiman urged the Lebanese leaders at the talks to assume their national responsibilities and discuss controversial issues by toning down the political rhetoric. The meeting was preceded by closed-door talks between Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati and later between the president and Speaker Nabih Berri.

Jemayyel Expresses Will to Meet Hizbullah SG, Praises Dialogue

Local Editor Head of the Lebanese Phalange Party, Amine Jemayyel, expressed that he is ready to convene with Hizbullah Secretary General, His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. In an interview with as-Safir daily, Jemayyel said, "My hand is reached out, [...] and so I don't mind holding a meeting with Sayyed Nasrallah, and having a fruitful and productive result." He recalled how he had met with Sayyed Nasrallah in worse circumstances, after his son Pierre's assassinated. Commenting on Sayyed Nasrallah's suggestion to convene a national constitutional conference, Jemayyel asserted that the "Phalange party was among the first who demanded to hold a national conference to discuss specific issues like neutrality and the civil state, under the national charter, and through the [government] institutions and not on its expense." "Sayyed Nasrallah's notion is somehow vague, and needs to be cleared," Jemayyel said, further wondering, "Should we start all over from the beginning, or are there pillars upon which the conference would be built?" Jemayyel added that the notion of fundamentalism adopted by some parties, preventing them from acknowledging other parties and excluding them, is a threat on the civil state which the Lebanese are calling for. He clarified that he is ready to open broad relations with any Islamic movement that believes in dialogue and does not use weapons to impose its will, noting in this regard that his party received a delegation from the Islamic Jamaa leadership. Moreover, Jemayyel described the situation in North Lebanon as "scary", and stated, "If we continue the ongoing rhetoric and political violence, it would only lead to escalating the ground and bloody violence, which calls for rapid action to prevent this flow towards vain. The national dialogue might be one of the breaks that could prevent [the country from] tumbling down." On another hand, Jemayyel believed that the defense strategy has many elements, and does not only rely on weapons, but rather includes the economic factor, internal stability, and additional factors that should be nourished. Also on the dialogue, Jemayyel expressed fear that the dialogue would be set forth to serve personal accounts, stressing, "It would be beneficial if the dialogue is attended in good faith." As for those who want to attend the dialogue seeking victory over others, Jemayyel said they already sentenced it to failure, and targeted its goal to seek consensus on mutual visions, away from the win-lose situation, and therefore all parties should be aware that they are taking part in a dialogue that has basics. egarding the Syrian crisis, head of the Phalange party asserted that no Lebanese party should include itself in the Syrian crisis. "No one can lead the Phalange anywhere [into the crisis], knowing that it was easier for us to follow the flow, yet we decided to be reasonable instead of emotional," Jemayyel iterated. Source: as-Safir daily, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org

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