Hizbullah, Mustaqbal Agree to Back Security Plan in 'All Regions', Make Progress on 'Defusing Tensions'

Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement agreed Monday during their second dialogue session to support efforts to “continue the implementation of the security plan across all Lebanese regions,” revealing that they have made “progress” on the issue of defusing Sunni-Shiite tensions.

“Discussions tackled a main topic – defusing sectarian tensions – and serious progress was made in this regard,” said a joint statement issued after the talks in Ain al-Tineh.

The two parties also agreed to “support the continued implementation of the security plan across all Lebanese regions,” the statement added.

Hizbullah's al-Manar TV had earlier reported that talks were expected to focus on “defusing sectarian tensions” through easing the “political and media rhetoric” and pacifying the sentiments of the two parties' supporters.

It quoted officials from both sides as saying that “tensions did decrease in the past days.”

The dialogue's sponsor, Speaker Nabih Berri, did not take part in the talks but he was represented by his political aide, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who had also attended the first session.

“The Mustaqbal-Hizbullah dialogue will not tackle the issue of the presidency, which will be left to the Christian parties,” al-Jadeed television reported prior to the meeting.

Dialogue had kicked off on December 23 between the two parties and the first session was aimed at devising a “roadmap” and a “mechanism” for the next sessions.

The rival political groups also expressed during that session their willingness to engage in “serious” dialogue over “all issues.”

An unprecedented security plan was launched in April in the Bekaa and North regions. The campaign was later expanded to involve the capital Beirut and its suburbs.

However, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq lamented in October that the plan was not fully implemented in the Bekaa, hinting at an obstructing role for Hizbullah.

But on December 3, prior to the first dialogue session, the minister revealed that the plan will be continued and that it would involve measures against the Hizbullah-affiliated Resistance Brigades.

Y.R.