Mustaqbal to Hizbullah: Our Stance on Intervention in Syria Hasn't Changed

Al-Mustaqbal movement responded Monday to Hizbullah's fierce criticism of the March 14 camp over its declaration of the formation of a National Council.

“We hope MP Mohammed Raad's remarks on dialogue were hasty or a slip of the tongue,” Mustaqbal bloc MP Samir al-Jisr said in remarks to MTV.

Raad and several Hizbullah officials hinted over the weekend that March 14's announcement might derail the ongoing talks between the party and al-Mustaqbal.

“There are firm stances that we said inside and outside dialogue and our stances on the (military) intervention (by Hizbullah) in Syria and the region and the axis of resistance have not changed,” al-Jisr added.

Asked whether al-Mustaqbal's stance was ambiguous following the March 14 statement that was recited by al-Mustaqbal bloc chief MP Fouad Saniora, al-Jisr said: “We are part of March 14 and we had no reservations over the remarks voiced at the BIEL rally, in which we participated.”

On Sunday, Raad wondered if there is a need to engage in dialogue “while the malicious tongues are insulting the resistance and its project.”

“We either engage in dialogue amid a calm atmosphere and know whom we're talking with … or else this issue cannot continue,” Raad added.

His remarks came after the March 14 forces strongly criticized Saturday “the role of Iran and its proxies, topped by Hizbullah, which is implicating Lebanon and seeking to prolong the presidential vacuum.”

They also slammed Hizbullah's military intervention in Syria.

Y.R.