Mashnouq Says Coordinated Stance with Salam: It is Different from Bassil's
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq stressed that his stance regarding Hizbullah at the Arab Interior Ministers Conference was coordinated with Prime Minister Tammam Salam and that it was different from the controversial stance of Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Thursday.
“There is absolutely no resemblance between the two stances. I have not stood in the face of the Arab consensus and Lebanon's position was not the only one, but it followed the reservations expressed by Iraq and Algeria,” Mashnouq told the daily.
On Wednesday, the Interior Minister objected against labeling Hizbullah as a terrorist organization in the closing statement of the 33rd Arab Interior Ministers Conference held in Tunisia.
Emphasizing that the position was coordinated with Prime Minister Tammam Salam, he said: “Outside Lebanon, I cannot but defend all the Lebanese.”
The statement came hours after the Gulf Cooperation Council had blacklisted the party.
The gatherers at the conference had condemned the practices of Iran and Hizbullah, citing the party's "terrorist acts and incitement in Syria, Yemen and in Iraq," which were threatening Arab security.
For his part, former Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi expressed surprise at the stance of Mashnouq and said: “The accusation of the GCC against Hizbullah as terrorist organization came after irrefutable evidence,” he told al-Jazeera.
“Mashnouq's stances are unjustifiable and I urge the government to resign.”
In January and during an Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo, Bassil expressed Lebanon's rejection of an Arab League statement that condemned Hizbullah over alleged interference in the Arab States.
That position drew a lot of controversy and triggered a series of GCC reactions that started with Saudi Arabia halting a $4 billion in aid to the Lebanese army and military institutions.
It was followed by travel warnings to Lebanon. Other Gulf states followed suit urging their nationals not to travel to the country and those residing to leave.
D.A.
G.K.
8 years
Ebola has destroyed the most precious thing in Lebanon: the living together.
8 years
That is true, it is hypocritical to be in the same Goverment and label them terrorists.
Mashnouq is still a minister in the Government, and Tamam Salam aswell, just because Rifi whines all day, and resigns from his post does not mean every other pro March 14 politician wants to do it, they still need their salaries, even more now that the Saudis pulls out.
8 years
ex-man You take Saudi Arabian decisions over the Lebanese people, even when the Saudis sanctions the Army and all of Lebanon, you still go to the Saudi kings and kiss their polished shoes.
8 years
even when the Saudis sanctions the Army and all of Lebanon,"
why do you care? as you always bark that Lebanon needs no saudi money.... LOLLLL
8 years
Emphasizing that the position was coordinated with Prime Minister Tammam Salam, he said: “Outside Lebanon, I cannot but defend all the Lebanese.”..........
You should have a more clear definition of "LEBANESE". It should be someone who abides by the laws and constitution, who believes in one army for protecting its borders, one who believes in demarcated borders, one who who builds and strengthen the State and its army, one who does not behold to foreign power based on sect or personal interest. This disqualifies all of HA, all of Amal, SSNP, and anyone who worked against the State and the army.
8 years
so ask this useless wannabe those who killed hariri are not terrorists?
8 years
Lebanon is a country ,unfortunately since its independence the politicians did not succeed to make this country a nation, lack of vision combined with personal greed and religion abuse for political goals kept this country in turmoil.....
8 years
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. The mustaqbal are cowards, hypocrites, and inconsistent incompetent politicians.
8 years
no they are not disconnected from reality. They are led by an extremely incompetent leader who needs to be unseated.
Yes, it is exactly the same as Bassil's stances. Your excuse is/was that because you share a government with hezbollah you cannot label them a terrorist organization. Well, that is your and hariri's problem and not the Arab world's problem. The other excuse is they represent a large portion of the Lebanese population does not make them not terrorists. Perhaps yo should also say that a portion of the Lebanese population is terrorist. Losers all of you without exception.