Bassil Says Labeling Hizbullah as Terrorist 'Unacceptable'
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil stressed on Sunday that declaring Hizbullah as a terrorist group at the Arab League was “unacceptable,” pointing out that Lebanon has already expressed reservation on that labeling.
In an interview to the Kuwaiti al-Rai daily Bassil said: “Describing the party as terrorist does not comply with the Arab treaty to combat terrorism.”
“Hizbullah has been ranked in the United Nations and it has a broad representation of Lebanese. It enjoys mass parliamentary and ministerial blocs,” pointed out Bassil.
“We have agreed to the terms of the rest of the resolution. It was normal not to accept describing the party as a terrorist,” added the Minister.
Bassil reiterated saying that “Beirut condemns the attacks against Saudi missions in Iran and denounced any interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries.”
The Arab League on Friday declared Iran ally Hizbullah a "terrorist" group, after Gulf monarchies adopted the same stance over the movement's support for the regime in Syria's war.
The move reflects the worsening tensions between Shiite Iran and the six-nation Sunni-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia is a key member.
It comes a month after Riyadh cut ties with Tehran following demonstrations in which its embassy and a consulate were torched, in the wake of the Saudi execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.
Friday's decision was endorsed by the majority of foreign ministers of the pan-Arab body except for Lebanon and Iraq which expressed "reservations".
In January, GCC member Bahrain said it had dismantled a "terror" cell allegedly linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Hizbullah.
Saudi Arabia and fellow Gulf nations also accuse Iran of supporting Shiite rebels in Yemen, as well as attempting to destabilize their own regimes.
They also denounce its alliance with the Syrian regime and Hizbullah while support rebels who have been fighting since 2011 to topple the Damascus government and President Bashar Assad.
On March 2, the GCC -- which also includes Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- declared Hizbullah a "terrorist" group.
It was the latest step taken by Gulf states against Hizbullah, which has lawmakers in Lebanon's parliament.
It came days after Saudi Arabia in February halted a $4 billion program for military supplies to Lebanon in protest against Hizbullah.
After that announcement, Saudi Arabia urged its nationals to leave Lebanon and avoid traveling there, with Qatar and Kuwait later issuing similar advisories.
The United Arab Emirates banned its citizens from traveling to Lebanon.
The United States, Canada and Australia have listed Hizbullah as a "terrorist" group. The European Union has also blacklisted its military wing.
9 years
How many millions have you received? Na3iim 3aoun knows it all.
You are the one who has corrupted your 3ammo and brought him to become another dog.
9 years
To please you : I am S3oodi, Israeli, Sahyuni, Amrikani, Inglizi, Fransi...
Ruu7 tok w muut!
9 years
tell us then how can a man with only his politician salary can buy millions of dollars worth of lands in Batroun? the Holy Spirit helped him? LOL
9 years
* Bassil statement represents the majority of Lebanese people....
9 years
southern and his perpetual double standards...
so bassil represents the state and gvt but rifi didn't mooo hek? both ministers but one represents the other not....
your logic is really twisted....
9 years
and southern, unless you hezbis change the lebanese constitution here is what is stipulated :
"It is a founding and active member of the League of Arab States and abides by its pacts and covenants."
so your barking does not change the fact that Lebanon has to follow the majority decision of the arab league... or change the lebanese constitution.....
9 years
"Rifi is partial individual who must be kicked out for being a Saudi stooge."
but but rifi was also chosen just like your iranian puppet.... so one is a stooge and not the other? wahahahaha!
at least rifi had the courage to resign....
double standards as usual... pityful braindead hezbi you are indeed....
9 years
when he was chosen, he wasn't that stooge, he resigned because the Saudi role in Lebanon is over.... pity of you!
9 years
i am just stating the lebanese constitution bigjohn.... have you read it? LOL
now if it does not please you change it or leave this country you will not be missed....
9 years
Shame...shame...shame...
9 years
You are destroying Lebanon for the benefit of Ebola who is your master.
You and them have destroyed our beautiful Lebanon. Look at the people who has become poorer because of you.The whole world considers Ebola as terrorists. It is not a little corrupt who is going to change that.
Minister? My foot. It is by oppression that you were named not because of your competencies, not because of your honesty, not because of your patriotism.
You are the greatest failure in this country. You have failed in each and every post you have occupied.
If you were not the son in-outlaw you would have been nothing, which is exactly what you are.
9 years
Lebanon was like an open wound, that the Saudis kept stabbing with their daggers.
Finally my wishes came true, and your Saudi Influence is failing and we are becoming free of their shackles and torment.
I wished for this for many years now, and an halt of Saudi Aid is also a great desire accomplished for Lebanons strength and determination.
9 years
You despicable little traitor midget . What are you gaining by alienating the GULF and standing next to Iran and the Hezb ??
9 years
You are as ridiculous and illeterate as your picture and name
9 years
It is spelled "illiterate" you fool.
Think before you try to insult ya phalangist.
9 years
hahha , you iranian parrots are going to teach me english now ? this is a typo . Speak arabic properly 1st you persian lover
9 years
This is not Lebanon's official statement. This is the statement of Hezbollah's statelet forced on all Lebanese by arms, threats and dictatorship
9 years
It is Lebanon's official Foreign minister.
No matter how much you hate him, that's his post right there.
You had your Justice Minister, and he resigned that is your problem.
We tried to share power with your people, and we still do with the ministers that learned to accept it, which is Salam & Mashnouq etc.
We will just not accept Saudi/Gulf Influence consuming Lebanon any longer, we rely on the Army and Resistance only from now on.
Check realities not your wishes.
9 years
"we rely on the Army and Resistance only from now on. "
so tell us : is hezbollah going to invest in economical projects? is hezbollah going to give grants and loans to the gvt?
what is hezbolah plan to improve the lebanese economy? what is its project to improve people's social welfare?
tell us please and enlighten us on how hezbollah is going to contribute to the state's economy?
what do you make of berri's declaration that saudis are not going to give up on lebanon? LOL
9 years
To Mastica and all other no-brain and zero IQ:
To please you : I am S3oodi, Israeli, Sahyuni, Amrikani, Inglizi, Fransi...
Ruu7 tok w muut!
9 years
"Lebanon is Arab in its identity and in its association. It is a founding and active member of the League of Arab States and abides by its pacts and covenants. Lebanon is also a founding and active member of the United Nations Organization and abides by its covenants and by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Government shall embody these principals in all fields and areas without exception. "
LOL at miss tic.....
9 years
But we can easily call them Filthy Murdering Militia
9 years
yeah we know hezbi rhetoric: if you are against hezbollah it means you are a zionist....
very narrow minded people you are....
9 years
Loool ...3ajabak?
9 years
Seriously dude, calling everyone who disagrees with you a Zionist has stopped working ages ago. No one is afraid of you anymore and people are finally speaking up (you are not used to it, I know). This argument simply belittles what you are trying to say. You may or may not have a valid point; but the fact remains that threatening, terrorizing and accusing others of "Zionism" is just proof that you parrot what your master says without even checking history books or reading into politics or having some form of free thought for yourself. And FYI, the Jews are native to the area too. But that does not concern me, I speak only of Lebanon and as a Lebanese
9 years
just like russia under staline and co call the opponents evil capitalists, just like hitler call all those opposing him jews, just like any dictators, they have to find a scapegoat, so much easier for narrow minded people to understand...
and notice depending on the propaganda of the day their opponents are either takfiris, qaeda, saudis or zionists.... they cannot even make up their mind! LOL
9 years
and iran and the assad regime... do not forget all the enemies of Lebanon even if you deny some.....
9 years
and as a native i am telling you that iran and the assad regime are as enemy as israel is.....
9 years
Why surprised that he has photos with any Israeli politician? Since "Abu Al-Ghayt was the former foreign minister for Mubarak" it comes as no surprise, since Egypt and Israel are at peace. You want to hate and you want the entire world to hate with you.
9 years
sure hezbollah never received a single dollar from iran to build up their anti lebanese arsenal... it fell from the sky! a divine intervention they would call it! LOL
9 years
sure bigjohn we know you hezbi want to drag Lebanon into a third world country, giving up everything so that your masters can better rule people...
what has hezbollah done to improve the lebanese economy? NOTHING! rather they destroyed the country to better control it with your full support... if they were resistants working for Lebanon they would do all they can to make the country a developed one with jobs for everyone, with wealth equally redistributed... but rather they keep it poor and never ever proposed anything to make it thriving....
any dictators love dragging its country into poverty so they stand up as the true leader, they can better control the minds...
people want what is best for their children but you want what hezbollah tells for yours.... i refuse being a slave, my mind is free unlike yours....
9 years
Whatever you say is trashed in Na3meh...
9 years
Those who are Farsi are Lebanese? Ya 3ayneh malla logic...!!!
9 years
The idiot said he is Lebanese. Since when the Farsi are Lebanese?
Ya 3ayneh malla logic...!!!
9 years
Its not about stance, it is not about millions. The simple answer is the FM represents the Lebanese government, thus the Lebanese people. How could people of Lebanon with its tragically history be labelled a terrorist? Its unacceptable and fully wrong and the Lebanese has to be united on it. Think who is the minority and who is the majority in the middle east, then build your imagination , the humble hole.
9 years
Since when the Bedouin of the gulf dictate their opinion on others, only since Oil gained its value. Its the biggest tragedy. They are selling your life choice for the price of the Oil barrel. They do intervene in internal politics, blocking the decisions, using the Arab values, but they have no Arab blood. They are Gulf Bedouin, who has to play with sheep's in the desert and do not play humans life's. This is the tragedy. |Where the real Arabs, the Blad of Sham, the Damascus is on fire, burning its history and temples, on big purpose. Remember it people of history, the Lebanese people.
9 years
Lebanon is now a third world country, thanks to hezbollah and your support....
has hezbollah ever done anything to improve its economy? never!! they just wage wars without the consent of its people who just have to shut up and bear the conséquences of their destruction....
9 years
This statement is coming from one of many sellouts in Lebanon, credibility of his word is null and void. Same goes for anyone else from ANY foreign influence.
9 years
They are more than terrorists. They are filth and garbage. They belong in the new landfills.
Corrupt imbassil agent traitor and dog.