Hariri Rejects Turning 'Dialogue on Arms' into 'Dialogue on Tripoli'

Former prime minister Saad Hariri on Friday responded to Speaker Nabih Berri’s recent call for national dialogue, saying he welcomes “the principle of dialogue” but noting that it is “unacceptable” to turn dialogue over Hizbullah’s arms into dialogue over the latest unrest in Tripoli.

“We welcome the principle of dialogue and the call for dialogue; however, we remind that our permanent stance is: We were not the ones who withdrew from the national dialogue, and we demand its resumption on the bases that were agreed upon, and on the items that were included on its agenda,” said Hariri in a statement.

“The issue of weapons -- all weapons -- is the only item that remained on the agenda,” Hariri added.

The ex-PM warned that arms outside state authority “represent a chronic threat to civil peace in Lebanon, as proven by several events during the past years, including the incidents of May 7, 2008, Burj Abi Haidar, Mar Mikhael and other Lebanese areas.”

“With our full respect for Speaker Nabih Berri, whose good faith we don’t doubt, it is illogical and unacceptable to twist the only item remaining from the national dialogue, and transform it into dialogue on Tripoli,” said Hariri.

“Our stance is that Tripoli does not need dialogue, but a decision. Tripoli, just as Beirut and other cities, needs a decision to turn it into a weapons-free city. Tripoli needs a decision to stop the arming and financing of mercenaries who are linked to some political parties, and to stop making some state agencies serve the interests of the Syrian regime in Lebanon,” Hariri stressed.

He noted that this decision is the “direct responsibility of the state, which we fully support in any decision it takes to protect Tripoli and Lebanon from discord or, God forbid, civil war.”

The northern city has been witnessing intermittent deadly clashes since six days that were sparked by the arrest on Saturday of Salafist activist Shadi al-Mawlawi by General Security agents at the entrance of an office belonging to Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi.

General Security agents lured Mawlawi to the office at Safadi’s welfare association in Tripoli under the pretext of offering him healthcare.

Mawlawi was later detained on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. His supporters say he was arrested because of his support for Syrians fleeing the crackdown in their country.

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim on Tuesday confirmed media reports that Mawlawi’s arrest was coordinated with a Western security agency, noting that al-Qaida exists in Lebanon and hinting that Mawlawi is a Qaida member.