Rifi Says Fleiti Trustworthy as Mashnouq Says 'Doors Open' for Any Mediator

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi announced Monday that he “personally” trusts Arsal deputy municipal chief Ahmed Fleiti, who has embarked on a mediation mission in the case of the captive servicemen, while noting that the man has not yet received an official authorization from the government.

“We're concerned with the freedom of the servicemen, whose release must be secured as soon as possible,” said Rifi after meeting at the ministry with a delegation representing the families of the hostages.

“The freedom of the servicemen has priority over everything else and all politicians support a swap deal,” he added.

The minister noted that the families' recent meetings with state officials “have resolved major obstacles in the case,” as he stressed that “the government has not spared any effort.”

“There are negotiations with Daesh (Islamic State) and al-Nusra (Front), and we hope they will be efficient,” Rifi revealed.

In response to a reporter's question, the minister pointed out that “Fleiti has not been officially tasked” with mediating in the case.

“But I can personally say that he is a trusted man who enjoys credibility. There is another channel of communication with al-Nusra but I will not disclose it,” Rifi added.

The families had earlier in the day met with Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq.

Sheikh Omar Haidar, a spokesman for the families, thanked the minister after the talks for his “transparency and honesty.”

Haidar quoted Mashnouq as saying that “the doors of negotiations are open for any person seeking to play a positive role in the case.”

The minister also noted that the government is still seeking an “unconditional” swap deal.

“We support every effort that is being exerted in this case to secure the release of our brothers, the servicemen, … topped by the endeavor of Mr. Ahmed Fleiti,” Haidar said, in the name of the families.

Around 25 policemen and soldiers are being held by the IS and the Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front. Four hostages have been executed by the two groups.

The servicemen were kidnapped in early August during clashes between the jihadists and the Lebanese army in and around the northeastern border town of Arsal. The militants have demanded that Islamist prisoners held in Lebanese jails be released in exchange for the hostages.

After Qatar ended its mediation on December 7, the distressed families called for a role for the Muslim Scholars Committee in the negotiations, but the government has so far refrained from giving the committee an official authorization.

However, the name of another mediator, Sheikh Wissam al-Masri, surfaced later in the month in media reports before he eventually visited the IS captors and the hostages in Arsal's outskirts.

Masri announced that the nine IS-held captives are in good health except for two who are suffering from inflammations.

As for Fleiti, he announced Sunday that he had been tasked to mediate in the case by Health Minister Wael Abou Faour.

Answering a question about Masri, the spokesman Haidar said: “We have not received any statement from the Islamic State group or anyone else. Ahmed Fleiti has been designated and they support him and back him.”

“I believe that Mr. Ahmed Fleiti is communicating with both al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State, but he started with the file of the IS and he will eventually move to the file of al-Nusra Front,” Haidar added.

Y.R.