Geagea Urges Hizbullah to Return to Lebanese Fold: State's Fate Lies in Suleiman, Salam's Hands
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters, hand over its weapons to the state, become part of the Lebanese fold, and limit its losses, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday.
He told the daily: “I hope President Michel Suleiman and Primer Minister-designate Tammam Salam will assume their responsibilities until the very end because the fate of the state depends on what they do.”
He stressed the need to form a new government and avoid political vacuum, saying that he prefers the formation of a neutral cabinet over one comprised of non-party officials, but he supports either line-up.
Commenting on the instability in Lebanon, Geagea said: “The situation is complicated and the future is not clear, especially regarding the parliamentary and presidential elections, in light of Hizbullah's policy of obstructing all state institutions.”
He ruled out however the eruption of a new civil war in Lebanon, adding that the situation in the country is linked to the unrest in Syria and it also lies in the hands of the Lebanese people themselves.
“At the moment however Hizbullah is Lebanon's only problem,” he stressed.
“I am not seeking to eliminate Hizbullah from the political scene in Lebanon, but I want to eliminate the means in which it is compromising the state,” he added.
Addressing the security situation in Lebanon, he said that he fears that assassination attempts against officials would take place, saying that it is preferable that former Premier Saad Hariri return to Lebanon, “but I cannot call on him to come back because I cannot assume the responsibility of this action.”
Hariri has been residing abroad for over a year due to alleged threats on his life.
Geagea also noted that the recent rockets that were fired in the Baabda region were a message to Suleiman over his recent criticism of Hizbullah's fighting in Syria.
“They do not want to silence him, but they want him to stop taking such stances,” he remarked.
“I do not rule out the possibility that they will send him other messages that will hit closer to home,” he warned.
Asked if a direct threat could be directed against the president, he responded: “Why not? Former Premier Rafik Hariri was assassinated” so nothing can be ruled out.
“We are still counting on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon” to create changes in Lebanon, Geagea said.
Two 107 mm rockets were fired in the Baabda area on Army Day on August 1.
One of the rockets landed in the garden of the Freiha villa that is located near the Officers' Club and presidential palace.
The second rocket landed near the Khashoqji castle in al-Yarzeh.
The attack came on the same day that Suleiman gave a speech on the occasion of Army Day in which he criticized Hizbullah's involvement in the Syrian war in support of President Bashar Assad's forces.
14 August 2013, 10:37
14
As an ibdependent observer, I think that Lebanon's safety lies in the national unity and rejection of weapons in whichever hands it's held except the hands of the army. The Lebanese should fend for themselves and refrain from being puppets to ourside forces. Most parties in lebanon are now having external agendas which bode doom for the country. Unless we start looking after ourselves, our destiny is gloomy and our lives will always be miserable. And hey guys, life is not always wars. Since its independence, Lebanon had been in war for more than 70% of its democracy. This certainly is a recipe for economic destruction. Is it not time for us to wake up and smell the beauty of life instead of fighting each other meaninglessly.
14 August 2013, 13:28
33
"Right now the worst enemy of the Lebanese, is their rigidity to see the opponent in anything but profound suspicion."
Sadly this is true. With no actions stemming from good faith and the encouragement of mutual trust there can be no understanding that is so critical for the betterment of the country. But really, there is no offer HA can accept to return to Lebanon. Perhaps it will disarm in this manner, but as you said, it is a long shot that it will decide to pull out its fighters.
14 August 2013, 14:02
103
Lady Gaga for the one hundredth time ........
Go back to your CELL !!
Signed Wolf !!!
14 August 2013, 14:16
72
L/ Forever
Ouff oouff oouff ,
I will never ever press the report button against your comment towards me ....no matter what you have to say about me !
I'm too old in the tooth & too thick in the skin for me to ask to delete you !
But it seems that you are the total opposite .
No matter what my opinion is it seems that you are affected .
Immunise yourself my friend you are too sensitive .
But this IS reality , & you must accept what is the eventuality .
You seem too young , ineffective , low in IQ , & I shall dismiss your thoughts !
Go & play SOME WHERE ELSE !
Signed Wolf !!!!!......
14 August 2013, 16:16
43
Minibash, I am all for you running your own newspaper. May I suggest a name for it? How about falsafat.net as arreet7akeh.net is already registered to the Doc of Bull, Dr. Arreet 7akeh and Arreet pretty much everything that the Bash left behind? alla yjibak ya Bash, SIR.
15 August 2013, 02:16
11
“I am not seeking to eliminate Hizbullah from the political scene in Lebanon, but I want to eliminate the means in which it is compromising the state,”. At this juncture, any Lebanese party that serves at the pleasure of foreign interests should be eliminated from the Lebanese political scene. Can either party maintain their respective positions and gains they've misappropriated without the financial support of either Saudi Arabia and Iran? No. Both sides are deeply rooted in the vicious cycle they've chosen to be a member in. I think it is close to impossible to surgically remove these short sighted thugs from Lebanese politics. The better road is to slowly lift them off layer by layer the same way skin on of your body heals itself from an infection.
15 August 2013, 09:02
01
Can Dr. Arreet 7akeh or anyone of his Drs. Arteena Satleh please explain to us what is meant by Lebanese fold? Is it something that one returns to, for example, after one has trampolined into the arms of a mou7tal of territory or of that bubble that sits between one's shoulders while scheming against ebn balado and then spend 11+ precious years underground perfecting the art of permutating between the Lebanese fold and the trampoline, an art perfected by by the Doc of Bull, Farts 14 and Sanni First, all warriors of ekher zaman? Also, can they please tell us what relationship exists between that Lebanese fold and amn al moujtama3 al i7i bi7i? takbir.
