Hariri Slams Hizbullah, Nusra, ISIL: Terror Can Only be Defeated through Baabda Declaration, Pullout from Syria
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed Friday his rejection of any president who might be in the service of any foreign “tutelage” and urged Speaker Nabih Berri to convince Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from Syria and start implementing the Baabda Declaration.
“As the Mustaqbal Movement refuses to be at the image of Hizbullah, we refuse to be at the image of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or al-Nusra Front, and refuse any call to involve the movement and Sunnis in Lebanon in the war between Hizbullah and al-Qaida,” Hariri said in a speech via video link that was broadcast during a rally organized by the March 14 forces to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri.
“They all represent destructive concepts and tools to drain the state, and projects for endless wars among Muslims. We, with the vast majority of the Sunnis in Lebanon, will face these projects and anything that harms the stability of the country and the rules of national consensus. These are our constant principles, and any step out of these principles is a second assassination of Rafik Hariri,” the former premier added.
He emphasized that the Mustaqbal Movement “will either be at the image of Rafik Hariri, or will cease to be.”
“Either it will be up to the level of his dreams, path, struggle, or national history, or it will not be,” Hariri added.
“In this sense, the time of justice is the time of moderation and the people of justice are the people of moderation. We are the people of moderation, who stood and are standing against all forms of extremism,” he said.
Addressing Mustaqbal's supporters, Hariri added: “And you saw that, after everything, the trial was launched and the logic of justice has triumphed. I have no doubt that the logic of moderation, the logic of the state, the logic of dignity, the logic of life will triumph.”
He noted that the new cabinet must be “a step forward on the road to the upcoming presidential elections.”
Hariri noted that his movement has showed flexibility in the cabinet formation process because it wants President Michel Suleiman’s term “to end with a comprehensive national initiative, which will be added to the achievement represented by the great support presented by (Saudi) King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to the Lebanese Army.”
“We refuse the vacuum in the presidency because a state without a president is a state on the verge of collapse. Our only project is the State and we reject presidential vacuum because we consider the Lebanese Christian Maronite President a symbol of the coexistence between Muslims and Christians, which we adhere to as a foundation for Lebanon,” the ex-PM added.
“The Mustaqbal Movement refuses vacuum in the only Christian presidential post in the Arab world and the only Christian presidential post from the Indian Coast to the shores of Morocco,” he stressed.
Hariri noted that “the tutelage of the Assad family on Lebanon turned the presidential elections into an occasion to overcome the will of the Christians in Lebanon,” underlining that Mustaqbal “will only accept a president who truly represents the national will of Christians and refuses any tutelage other than that of the constitution.”
Turning to the issue of the charter that was recently issued by the Maronite patriarchate, Hariri described it as “a roadmap for all the Lebanese -- Muslims and Christians -- towards the establishment of the state, and the monopoly of power in the hands of the legal institutions.”
Hariri then addressed Speaker Berri, asking him to convince Hizbullah to withdraw from the Syrian war.
“Because the State is our only project, I turn to the wise men in the Shiite sect and in the Higher Islamic Shiite Council, I address the sons and followers of Imam Moussa al-Sadr, Sheikh Mohammed Mahdi Shamseddine, Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadllallah and all the brave intellectuals who speak the words of truth, and I particularly address Speaker Nabih Berri,” said Hariri.
“Yes, I address Speaker Nabih Berri with all the honesty and sincerity that this critical phase of Lebanon’s history requires. I address him as a pillar of the Shiite sect in Lebanon, and as a leader who has a long history in dealing with the crises, in finding solutions and in bridging the gaps between the Lebanese,” he added.
Hariri said there are “thousands of Hizbullah fighters in Syria, and there are dozens of (Lebanese Sunni) fighters who are joining al-Qaida and others across the border.”
He warned that there is “an unprecedented wave of suicide bombers who are infiltrating the areas where Hizbullah is present.”
“There are also villages in Akkar and the Bekaa that are being bombed on almost daily basis from the Syrian territory, and there are innocent Lebanese citizens who are paying with their lives and properties the price of the involvement in the Syrian war,” added Hariri.
“But the most dangerous of all is the increasing sectarian dimension of the Lebanese involvement in this war and the great attrition affecting the army and all the military and security forces,” he said.
Addressing Berri, Hariri added: “What happened in Beirut's suburbs, Hermel, Akkar, Tripoli and Arsal are just examples of the involvement in this fire.”
“We assume that the suffering of the people, the scenes of booby-trapped cars and suicide attacks that claimed dozens of innocent people, in addition to the hundreds of coffins carrying those killed in the battles, the panic and anxiety haunting the citizens in all areas, the sectarian tension which is increasing every day and the big losses inflicted on the economy are enough to reconsider decisions that brought only death and destruction to Lebanon,” he went on to say.
“Mr. Speaker, from here starts the plan to defend Lebanon and protect the Lebanese from the danger of the terrorist organizations. It is impossible to fight terrorism when one party declares, alone, a war. Fighting terrorism simply needs wide national unity that restores the importance of the Baabda Declaration and it also needs an army capable of defending the borders and tightening control on border crossings,” Hariri added.
He stressed that fighting terrorism requires a “quick decision” from Hizbullah to withdraw from Syria, to “abandon the illusion of pre-emptive war” and “recognize that the Lebanese State is responsible of the safety of the borders and the citizens.”
“All begins from here. But would anyone listen, learn, be humble and take an initiative? We will not stop betting on the voice of logic and the brave national stance that breaks the wall of political stubbornness,” Hariri added, addressing the parliament speaker.
“If dialogue helps in reaching this, and if dialogue contributes to putting an end to the bleeding, then we will not fail to participate in order to give a glimpse of hope to the Lebanese that our country can produce solutions and prevent discord,” he said.
10 years
The young man of Lebanese politics has indeed grown up! Was it not for men like Hariri, Lebanon would be now in the midst of a brutal civil war.
10 years
flam - only a retard can make comments like you. When did suicide bombers were members of m14.
10 years
So what do suggest? Should Harriri and his supporter from the political elite surrender because Iran has taken over? Lebanon is a country that no one could swallow! at least this is what the latest civil war has taught us. HA is simply a transient phenomenon that would not survive in Lebanon. HA has taken the Shai hostages while brainwashing many of them. As soon as HA is tamed or destroyed, which is inevitable, all the Shai would support only the army. It's a matter of time and depend on the outcome in Syria which will only be the toppling of Assad. So, it's all a matter of time for things to settle in Lebanon and time is what the Lebanese has plenty of.
10 years
A statesman spoke today and a terrorist will speak Sunday. Once calls for saving Lebanon's future while the other calls for mortgaging it.
10 years
it is never too late: we will recover our country from all terrorists groups whether Iranian or salafis.
the existence of the moderate sunnis community is the guarantor for all moderates in this country.
10 years
I honestly don't know how he can do it after all what he's been through. A great speech by a great young man. Hope the other's will listen to him and spare Lebanon from an ugly and uncertain future. I seriously doubt it though since HA is tied to Iran's agenda.
10 years
Southern can you guarantee his safety? Please put a good worg in ay khayeh?
10 years
Good word in*
10 years
So good to hear him stick to moderation and building the state. Without Future Movement, I agree Lebanon will be in the middle of civil war. Nassrallah on Sunday will talk about his victories in Syria and in Qalamoun.
10 years
eagle.
true. Hariri talks about moderation. And Nasrallah talked about what he thinks are victories of his milicia.
10 years
veritas.
if you are not from lebanon, and are a lebanon hater why are you on a lebanese news site? za77it min hon
10 years
rofl ice-man!!!
10 years
ya saad el hariri,if u truly believe what u said:COME BACK TO LEBANON....u are saado in paris and SAAD RAFIK EL HARIRI in lebanon....
10 years
ya veritas we will not fight iran for israel,go do it urself...ask obama,he will tell u the real veritas about israel.
10 years
brave hezbi soldier you are.... bravo, you learned your lesson well!
10 years
i am talikng about your blind support of hezbis... if you wer truly respectful of the state you would ask jhezbis to obey it... but instead you are proud to support a militia disobeying the disassociation Policy of the state ...
you are just a proud little traitor :)
and for nasser , i do not give a damn about him or hariri :)
10 years
HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA That´s the funniest joke, so mean bas so funny hahahahahahaha and he ran away with his stolen paperless motorcycle.
10 years
@Jaafar: Happy Valentine to you too and to all the people in Dahieh. Please, never ever use any of my gems without my prior consent. Try for once to be innovative!
10 years
Very good and factual speech from Hariri. I wish Lebanon all the best and hope everybody comes to their senses and put national interests above all.
10 years
hi ice-man))) funny one dude! Back home already?
10 years
too funny...
10 years
yes @Liberty:) safe and sound back at home.
10 years
you criticize others for never sticking to the articles but i haven't seen you ONCE here commenting it...
just like a rabid FPMer dog you are, you just get your kicks out of insulting others... pityful you...
so you are NO better than those you criticize, even worse, little slithing worm....
you d better shut up instead of making a fool out of yourself... but then again i guess FPMers are like that, getting ridicule is what they know best! LOL
10 years
That's right Flatulence, luckily spotting a terrorist is much less complicated. For example if you views suicide bombing as an attractive happy pursuit like the nut in the following clip, you're a terrorist. No two logical persons can disagree about that. I mean this terrorist in the clip is describing the enjoyment felt by a suicide bomber in terms a normal human being would talk about a vacationer enjoying Fiji. This terrorist is seriously demented. Unfortunately he's also very influential and have no qualms about sending young men to engage in terrorist acts in the name of God if his master orders him to. Alas this is becoming very popular nowadays he and others like him call it Jihad (: ??!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knAA-glMEEM
10 years
Mr. Hariri Hezbollah will not pullout of Syria before the mission is finished. They are protecting Lebanese borders from the very same people the M14 sponsored in the beginning of the Syrian Unrest.
Saad you are speaking like a statesman. Ever since Bandar was "put away" we have our old saad back.
All arab countries should envy us for having the leader of our sunnites as moderate as saad.
Yalla come back to lebanon.